When Craig Berube sits down to tune in for the championship game of the 4 Nations Face-Off on Thursday night, he might peek though his fingers.
And as much as the Alberta native might like to see Canada beat the United States at TD Garden in Boston, having Maple Leafs teammates Mitch Marner and Auston Matthews emerge from the game in good health is at, or near, the top of Berube’s checklist.
That’s with Matthews already not at 100%. After the Leafs captain missed the Americans’ game against Sweden on Monday because of upper-body soreness, U.S. coach Mike Sullivan told reporters on Tuesday that he expects Matthews to be in the lineup against Canada.
On Tuesday afternoon at the Ford Performance Centre, after the Leafs’ first practice in returning from the 4 Nations break, Berube said he has watched all of the tournament, other than Sweden’s win against the U.S.
The Leafs coach then was asked whether injuries puts a pause in supporting an event such as the 4 Nations.
“That’s a concern, for sure,” Berube said. “It’s one of the things that is kind of out of our hands. There have been some injuries. It’s concerning, but that’s not for me to make those decisions.”
Leafs general manager Brad Treliving, to no surprise, has been in touch with the U.S. regarding Matthews, Berube indicated. Matthews’ upper-body injury issues this season have caused him to miss 15 games in 2024-25.
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As a whole, the tournament has captured the attention of the Leafs, as one would expect. We haven’t seen best-on-best competition since the 2016 World Cup of Hockey, and if anyone wondered whether something would have come off the rivalry between Canada and the U.S., those doubts were erased on Saturday in the Americans’ 3-1 win.
“A lot of fun and a little jealous,” John Tavares said, referring to watching teammates Marner, Matthews and William Nylander compete in the event. “You dream about being in those opportunities and to play for your country in best on best. Those guys have been great.
“Amazing hockey. I think everyone’s glued to it, really intrigued by it. It’s a great experience for all of them to be a part of that, represent their country in best on best and be around the game’s best players and in that type of intensity, that level of play. I think it will only benefit them greatly.”
Nylander and the Swedes were done on Monday, no matter the outcome of their game against the U.S. after Canada beat Finland in regulation earlier in the day. Nylander could re-join the Leafs for practice as soon as Wednesday, but Berube was not firm on that.
“I think Willie got back today, so I’m sure he’ll be in here tomorrow,” Berube said. “Whether he needs another day or not, we’ll see, but he might want to go on the ice. If he does, great.”
As for the first meeting of the Leafs since a 2-1 loss in Vancouver against the Canucks on Feb. 8, a couple of injured players — winger Calle Jarnkrok (sports hernia surgery/groin) and defenceman Jani Hakanpaa (knee) — were full participants in practice. Forward Connor Dewar, who is recovering from an upper-body injury, skated on his own but departed before the full workout got underway.
Alex Steeves, recalled from the Toronto Marlies earlier in the day, skated on a line with Jarnkrok and Matthew Knies.
Jarnkrok hasn’t played in a game this season; Hakanpaa has played in two.
“He looked fine, he’s really coming along,” Berube said in reference to Jarnkrok. “Great to have him out there. He needs time to practice with us, and work and see where he’s at, make sure he’s feeling good.”
Yes, there is hope that Hakanpaa, too, still can be a factor for the Leafs.
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“It’s about him consistently practising and feeling better as it goes along,” Berube said. “He has practised with us, and then it goes the other way a little bit on him. Hopefully this week is a good week for him, and he’s feeling good and then we keep progressing.
“This guy has a lot of experience. He’s a good player. It’s just about him feeling consistently ready to play.”
Berube acknowledged the manner in which the Canada/U.S. game started on Saturday, with three fights in the first nine seconds, took him off-guard. Few expect a similar start on Thursday, but count on the overall energy level to go another notch higher.
“It’s going to be great,” Berube said. “The intensity, there’s no room out there. People are full out physical, checking. It’s playoff hockey. You have to give everything you got, and all the games have been really good, in my opinion.”
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