Star defenseman Cale Makar will be a game-time decision for Canada’s showdown with the United States on Saturday night at the 4 Nations Face-Off in Montreal.

Makar missed practice on Friday due to an illness before participating in the morning skate on Saturday. Dallas Stars defenseman Thomas Harley was in attendance Saturday but did not skate at the same time as Makar.

“Trust me, it won’t be a situation … we’ll never put Cale in harm’s way,” Canada coach Jon Cooper said. “If he is in the lineup, he will be good to go.”

Canada already had seven defensemen on its original roster for the new international tournament. But Shea Theodore of the Vegas Golden Knights was injured in the first game Wednesday against Sweden and will not be available the rest of the tournament, pushing Philadelphia Flyers defensemen Travis Sanheim into action.

Makar, 26, would be a big loss for Canada offensively as well. The four-time All-Star and 2022 Norris Memorial Trophy winner for best defenseman in the NHL led everyone at his position at the league break with 63 points (22 goals, 41 assists).

Canada and the U.S. each won their first games of the tournament over Sweden and Finland, respectively. At the end of the round robin, the top two teams are slated to play for the championship Feb. 20 in Boston.

–Field Level Media