Team Canada head coach Jon Cooper made desperate lineup changes during the Olympic Finals against Team USA.
Jon Cooper isn't waiting for a miracle in Milan as Connor McDavid and Team Canada trail the Americans 1-0 after a shaky first period.
He made massive changes to the lineup mid-game to help his team get on the scoresheet.
Jon Cooper makes desperate lineup changes to get back in the Olympic Finals
As expected, and as he did multiple time since the tournament started, Cooper is now shortening his bench.
Here's the original lineup:
Celebrini - McDavid - MacKinnon
Marner - Suzuki - Stone
Marchand - Bennett - Wilson
Hagel - Horvat - Jarvis
Reinhart
Toews - Makar
Harley - Parayko
Sanheim - Doughty
Theodore
Binnington
Thompson
Now, to start the second period, he’s double-shifting McDavid and MacKinnon, slotting them between high-IQ players like Mitch Marner and Mark Stone.
By loading up his two best weapons, Cooper is betting that pure talent can break the U.S. defensive structure.
Nick Suzuki is the casualty here. The Montreal captain has been bumped down to the fourth line alongside Bo Horvat and Seth Jarvis.
Before the shakeup, Canada rolled with Brandon Hagel, Horvat, and Jarvis as the fourth unit, with Sam Reinhart waiting as the extra forward.
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Canada’s blue line, anchored by Cale Makar and Devon Toews, must find a way to trigger faster breakouts to support the new forward looks.
The pairs of Harley-Parayko and Sanheim-Doughty, along with Shea Theodore, have their hands full with the speed of the American transition game.
Brad Marchand, Sam Bennett, and Tom Wilson remain together. They need to provide the physical offensive output required to wear down Zach Werenski and Jake Sanderson.
If McDavid and MacKinnon can't find the equalizer soon, the U.S. might ride Connor Hellebuyck all the way to the top of the podium.
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