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The scene will switch to the TD Garden in Boston on Monday for a matinee at 1 p.m., and Canada has to beat Finland in regulation to book a spot in the final on Thursday.
‘This a short tournament, this is our Game 7,’ said Team Canada head coach Jon Cooper, whose team takes on Team Finland at the 4 Nations Face-Off on Monday. Photo by Minas Panagiotakis /Getty Images
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MONTREAL — Backs to the wall. No tomorrow. Now or never.
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All of those apply to Team Canada at the 4 Nations Face-Off.
Canada lost 3-1 to the United States on an electric Saturday night here at the Bell Centre and now faces a must-win against Team Finland to stay alive in the National Hockey League’s first best-on-best tourney since 2016.
The scene will switch to the TD Garden in Boston on Monday for a matinee at 1 p.m., and Canada has to beat Finland in regulation to book a spot in the final on Thursday, where it will rematch the United States.
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If they win in overtime against Finland, Canada will have to hope that Sweden loses to the United States on Monday night.
“This a short tournament, this is our Game 7,” said Canadian coach Jon Cooper.
But if Canada is going to beat Finland, which is coming off a dramatic 4-3 overtime victory over Sweden on Saturday, to book another date with the Americans the club has to be a lot better than it was on Saturday.
Cale Makar missed the game against the U.S. due to an illness, but he was on the ice for an optional skate Sunday. Photo by Minas Panagiotakis /Getty Images
Canada was beaten by a Team USA that was better in every aspect of the game and it’s incumbent on Cooper to make changes to his alignment if the country is to create more offence against the Finns.
“As a coach, this was our second game. So, now we’re seeing some things and we’ll look after the technical side,” Cooper said. “But it doesn’t matter who you are, if it was Scotty Bowman or name the coach, it doesn’t work unless you have a team that cares. And that test we passed (Saturday). We have a team that cares.”
Canada should be boosted by the return of defenceman Cale Makar. He was on the ice for an optional skate on Sunday in Boston after missing Saturday’s game with what was described as an illness. If he’s ready to play, blueliner Thomas Harley, a late addition to the roster, will have to be scratched.
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Makar told reporters in Boston he can’t put the Colorado Avalanche at risk.
“I’m going to do everything I can to play tomorrow. I’ve just got to make sure I feel right, body and everything-wise, and go from there,” Makar said.
He added it’s hard not to play.
“Incredibly hard. You grow up as a kid dreaming about that game, especially being played on Canadian soil,” said Makar. “Probably one of the toughest decisions I’ve ever had to make and hopefully never have to do that again. But, yeah, just got to make sure myself, I feel good and I’m ready to go, hopefully.”
Matthew Tkachuk of Team USA fights with Brandon Hagel of Team Canada on Saturday night during a 4 Nations Face-Off game. Tkachuk, who is dealing with a lower-body injury, isn’t expected to play Monday against Sweden. Photo by Minas Panagiotakis /Getty Images
The atmosphere against Finland will be nothing like what we witnessed when Canada faced the Americans. Nine seconds into the game there had already been three fights because the Americans, led by Matthew Tkachuk, wanted to send a message that “this is our time.
“Other than Game 7 last year, this has been the highlight of my hockey career,” said Tkachuk, who won the Stanley Cup with the Florida Panthers last season. “I’m just going to enjoy it with the guys. We have such a fun group in there.”
Tkachuk, who didn’t take a shift in the final 14 minutes of the third period against Canada, isn’t expected to play on Monday night against Sweden. American coach Mike Sullivan said Tkachuk has a lower-body injury and we’ll have to see what his status is for the tourney.
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“I have no idea of what the TV ratings were, but from the people that were texting me and talking to me, the audience had to be vast,” Cooper said. “It had a combination of everything. The naysayers, you can say everything you want about fighting, that was what ignited the game.
“Then when both teams flexed, a hockey game broke out, and it was a fantastic hockey game. When you get the best players in the world trying to score and actually checking, this is what you get. You’re holding your breath every time there is a scoring chance and you don’t know if it’s your last one.
“The game is in a better place because of last night’s game. I’m just disappointed we weren’t on the other end of it.”
Cooper said the response by the Canadian players just confirmed that this is a group that wants to get the job done for its country.
“The result is unfortunate. But I don’t think anybody can leave the building and say that that team didn’t stick up for each other or care for each other and play with a passion, Cooper said.
“And when you do have that, the ceiling is limitless, what the team can do. And so in that regard, I’m extremely proud of the guys. Now it’s on us here to tweak some things and find a way to beat Finland.”
Finnish coach Antti Pennanen was asked by a reporter in Boston what it would mean for his team to upset Canada.
“A lot, of course,” Pennanen said “It’s going to be a big battle for us and it means a lot because we respect Team Canada a lot and the hockey history. So, it’s going to be a big thing for us if we can win against that team.”
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