Canada is taking a pair of pivotal 4 Nations lineup decisions down to the wire

Canada’s fate in the 4 Nations Face-Off could come down to two lineup decisions that coach Jon Cooper is taking down to the wire.

Top defenseman Cale Makar is a game-time decision for a do-or-die match against Finland on Monday afternoon after missing Saturday’s game against Team USA, and Cooper declined to tell reporters in Boston on Sunday whether he would stick with Jordan Binnington over Adin Hill in net.

“I’m going to do everything I can to play tomorrow,” Makar, who’s been dealing with an illness, told reporters. “I just got to make sure I feel right, body and everything-wise and go from there.”

Canada called Stars defenseman Thomas Harley out of vacation to take Makar’s spot in the 3-1 loss to Team USA, but due to tournament rules, Harley wasn’t allowed to skate with the team until Makar was officially ruled out.

So his first time hitting the ice was for warmups at Bell Centre on Saturday.

Harley ultimately played 18:17 and recorded three blocked shots.

He would presumably come out of the lineup if Makar is back in.

If either Finland or Canada wins in regulation, that team would advance to the final against Team USA.

If the game goes to overtime, then Sweden would have a chance to make the final with a regulation win over Team USA later in the evening.

Having already clinched a spot in the title game, Team USA has the luxury of being able to rest Matthew Tkachuk on Monday if it so chooses after he missed much of the third period with an apparent issue.

“I got to do what’s, unfortunately, best for myself and make sure that I’m ready to go for the rest of the season,” Makar said. “It’s a really hard decision, but it’s definitely one that obviously everyone’s looking forward to for the entire season. That was a hard one, but I’ve got to make sure I get it right and hopefully feel better for tomorrow.”

As for the goalies, Binnington was the only Team Canada netminder not to skate on Sunday, indicating he’ll likely start a third straight game, but Cooper declined to confirm that, saying he had decided on a starter but didn’t want to give it away.

Binnington has played an up-and-down two games, making a number of highlight-reel saves but coming under criticism for allowing Jake Guentzel to beat him five-hole on Team USA’s first goal Saturday night.

“First one, it’s tough, he just snuck it five-hole there, and then the second one, two-on-one, I want to make the save there [on Dylan Larkin], too,” Binnington said. “That’s how the game goes. I competed and I battled hard.”