Team Canada makes major lineup changes to match the USA’s physically
Ahead of Saturday night’s wild matchup against the Americans, changes were needed. Find out more below:
The Tkachuk brothers ran wild on Thursday night. Matthew scored twice and added an assist to go along with Brady’s two-goal performance as the United States thumped Finland 6-1 in the 4 Nations Face-Off tournament. The Americans looked unbeatable. That’s why Team Canada and head coach Jon Cooper made significant changes to the lineup ahead of tomorrow night’s game.
As pointed out by Matt Larkin, Canada needs to improve on physicality.
“Canada can’t match the U.S. physically.
“As a counter-plan: I’d put Marchand-Bennett-Konecny out there as an agitator line, try to bait the Americans into penalties and get the super PP1 unit out there as much as possible.”
At practice, Cooper put Brad Marchand, Sam Bennett, who draws into the lineup for Travis Konecny, along with Seth Jarvis.
This is what the projected lineup for the game vs. the USA:
Reinhart-McDavid-Marner
Crosby-MacKinnon-Stone
Hagel-Cirelli-Point
Marchand-Bennett-Jarvis
Toews-Makar
Morrissey-Parayko
Sanheim-Doughty
Binnington
Hill
Absent: Makar
Extras: Konecny, Montembeault
Defenseman Cale Makar missed practice with an illness while Travis Sanheim drew in for the injured Shea Theodore.
After Theodore went down with injury, Team Canada put Dallas Stars defenseman Thomas Harley on notice that he will be the next man up if there’s another injury on the club’s blue line. He cannot take part in formal skates or meetings with Canada unless he is officially added to the roster. Harley has nine goals and 29 points in 53 games this season with the Stars.
NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly has announced that, given the circumstances, Harley can come in and join Team Canada in case Makar cannot play tomorrow night.
Canada and the U.S. are set to meet at the 4 Nations on Saturday night back at the Bell Centre.
What a game it will be.
