Cale Makar doing everything possible to play in Canada’s must-win

BOSTON — How close was Cale Makar to suiting up in Saturday’s epic showdown versus USA?

Well, he was spotted taping his sticks before the warmups. That close.

And Canada’s No. 1 defenceman is trending in the right direction for Monday’s must-win matinee versus Finland at the 4 Nations Face-Off.

“I’m going to do everything I can to play tomorrow. I just got to make sure I feel right, body and everything-wise and go from there,” says Makar, who is said to be recovering from an illness.

“You grow up as a kid dreaming about that game, especially being played on Canadian soil. Probably one of the toughest decisions I’ve ever had to make and hopefully never have to do that again.”

Makar again skated with the extras Sunday in Boston and is in constant communication with the coaches about his health. This is the player’s call.

“We’re on top of everything,” coach Jon Cooper said. “I know if he can go, he’s going to go.”

Debate stirs behind the scenes over the eligibility of Makar’s replacement, Thomas Harley, to also play Monday even if Makar can go.

Despite the hectic circumstances, Harley outperformed some of his teammates, and Cooper has become a fast fan.

Expect tweaks to Canada’s forward lines as well.

Sidney Crosby — too sore to take face-offs — committed a costly turnover and hasn’t meshed as well with Nathan MacKinnon in this sprint tournament as they do in Tim Hortons commercials and Elliotte Friedman sit-downs.

Connor McDavid’s original top-line wings Sam Reinhart and Mitch Marner (Wednesday’s OT hero) made little impact against the U.S.

Meanwhile, Brayden Point’s play is screaming for a promotion, and Sam Bennett has been underused.

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Bet on Cooper making adjustments, just as Canada adjusted Sunday’s practice plans after a horrible flight delay.

Team Canada flew out of Montreal after the U.S. game. But due to weather and technical issues, they didn’t check into their Boston hotel until roughly 6 a.m. Instead of practising, they slept in.

“That’s brutal for them,” one Finnish veteran said. “Quick turnaround.”

No excuses for the favourites, though.

And no taking the Finnish lightly.

“They’re always hanging around, and it’s because they play a disciplined style. I think everybody in the country knows exactly how they play. They have an identity to them,” Cooper said. “It’s really impressive, especially for a country (with) that small of a population, to be able to produce the hockey players they do — and then have a specific identity that finds a way to get it done in tournaments.

“The difference probably between Canada and Finland is, we have massive expectations in front of us. But expectations don’t win hockey games. You have to go out there and perform.”

Harley’s ‘oh s—’ moment

No Canadian skater posted a better expected goals percentage on Saturday than emergency recruit Harley. The scoring chances were 10-1 and high-danger chances 8-0 for Canada when the underrated Dallas Stars defenceman hit the ice.

“Unreal game by him,” Colton Parayko says. “Just incredible.”

Chris Tanev singled out Harley as the Star who most opened his eyes during his stint in Texas, and teammate Matt Duchene perks up when you ask about the 23-year-old.

“Just a really elite skater. In our system, the way we play, we get the puck in the forwards’ hands a lot, but when he gets a chance to skate with it, it’s impressive,” Duchene says. “He’s an elite, elite player. If he’s playing in a market like (Toronto), he’s getting a ton of attention.

“Playing all the way down there in Texas, he probably doesn’t get the look that he should but he’s a hell of a player, and he’s a guy that’s gonna creep up on people over the years.”

Harley was glued to Canada versus Sweden at his home in Dallas Wednesday — with a ticket to Cabo set for 8 a.m. Thursday — when Jim Nill’s name illuminated on his cell.

“Oh, s—,” Harley thought. “I knew what he was calling about, so take a breath and answer the phone.

“Crazy experience. Whirlwind of a couple days. But it’s an honour to be here, and anytime you can wear the Maple Leaf, it’s a no-brainer.”

Barkov will be sicced on McDavid

Finland can’t match Canada’s firepower upfront, nor fall into a track meet. The plan is to slow the pace as much as possible and defend as a five-man unit, which will be critical with its depleted blueline.

Helping the defence will be Aleksander Barkov, who has a recent history of successfully limiting McDavid in an elimination game. (Finland is the “home” team and holds the last change.)

Having a McDavid antidote like Barkov is “huge,” Henri Jokiharju says.

“That’s why he’s the captain. Great teammate. You can just follow what he does on the ice; you don’t even have to talk to him. You can just watch him and learn.”

Erik Haula says the Finnish identity is to fluster the opposition with tenacity and structure.

The Finns believe they found that against Sweden and for the first 40 minutes against the U.S. An ugly third period against the Americans dug a hole they’re still clawing out from under.

“We were just pissed,” Haula says. “The score of the game didn’t really reflect on the big picture of it. Obviously, you lose 6-1, you lose 6-1. There’s no denying that. But you’re frustrated with how it went, and you almost want to play another game and do better.

“We get another chance tomorrow to just prove it to ourselves.”

Walk it like Rick Tocchet

The first skater to hit the ice Friday at Team Canada’s final full practice was Rick Tocchet.

The assistant coach fired a few pucks and as the players began filing onto the ice and circling counterclockwise, the Jack Adams winner milled about, engaging in one-on-one chats with the likes of McDavid, Brad Marchand, and Nathan MacKinnon.

As the intense practice neared the hour mark, the 60-year-old gleefully fetched a shovel and began doing a dry scrape around the slot. A few guys chirped him as he performed the task.

“It’s actually amazing to me that he played in the ’87 Canada Cup. Like, it’s shocking. He deserved to be there. But he’s just such a young guy, it doesn’t feel like he should’ve been there,” Cooper says.

“The one thing about Toc, he is so relatable, you kinda hang on everything he says. And so his experiences, and what he’s gone through, in educating our players, it’s phenomenal. His relationship with Sid is second to none. He’s got the respect of everybody. He’s just that guy that kind of passes information on. You’re looking (for) the glue on everybody’s staff, you’d have to sit there and say Rick Tocchet is a big part of it for us.”

One-Timers…

• Vancouver’s Kevin Lankinen will get the start versus Canada. Cooper declined to announce his starter.

• Feels like Matthew Tkachuk is Team USA’s captain, doesn’t it?

Also: With Monday’s game meaningless for the U.S., Tkachuk should rest for Thursday’s final and Chris Kreider should draw in.

• Spoke to Josh Morrissey about what it’s like to quarterback Canada’s deadly power play with Makar out.

“It’s just about executing, making the plays that are there. But when you’re looking around, seeing those guys, it’s pretty special. You saw the goal they scored (Wednesday) night.”

• Connor Hellebuyck’s save percentage against the best shooters Canada and Finland have to offer: .957.

Get excited, Jets fans.

• Team USA’s victory over Canada Saturday was its first in a best-on-best game in 15 years, dating back to the 2010 Olympics round robin. The loss also snapped Canada’s 17-game win streak at best-on-best, which also stretched back to that loss in Vancouver.

Can history repeat itself? Could a round-robin loss to the U.S. lead to a Canadian championship win?

• Team Finland was bussing to their Boston hotel when the U.S.-Canada game ignited.

“Figured I’d tune in,” Haula says.

“I had my one-year-old in my lap and gave the phone to my four-year-old. I asked if he wanted to watch the game, and he sees three fights. ‘Buddy, what’s going on over there?’ That was awesome, though. Obviously, tuned in to watch the rest of the game when we got to the hotel.”

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Finland to start Lankinen in pivotal game vs. Canada at 4 Nations Face-Off