USA V. Canada Preview: Sullivan Faces Crosby, U.S. Looks To Clinch 4 Nations Title Game

The Penguins' head coach and captain will face each other for the first time internationally as Team USA and Team Canada meet during 4 Nations round-robin play on Saturday

It will be quite the night for the NHL and for hockey, as an event nine years in the making is finally happening Saturday night.

And it will also be quite the story from a Pittsburgh Penguins perspective.

Team USA will face off against Team Canada for the first time since the World Cup of Hockey in 2016, reigniting one of the greatest rivalries in all of sports. On the same night, the Penguins' coach and their franchise player will be enemies for the first time in a long time as well.

Mike Sullivan - head coach of Team USA - has coached Sidney Crosby and the Penguins since December 2015. And this marks the first time he will suit up against Crosby as a head coach during international play.

And make no mistake: Sullivan is well-aware of Crosby's brilliance and the threat 'Captain Canada' poses.

"He's a big-game player," Sullivan said. "I've witnessed it firsthand for a decade now. Sid tends to be at his best when the stakes are high. That’s what I witnessed the other night. I would anticipate he’ll be at his best against us.”

Crosby was nothing short of brilliant on Wednesday in Canada's 4-3 overtime win against Sweden. He registered three brilliant assists - all a result of his high hockey IQ and remarkable skill - and secured First Star honors at the end of the contest. He is also 26-0 in his last 26 international appearances.

However, the Canadians will have to put forth their best effort without one of their best players Saturday night. It was revealed that defenseman Cale Makar - one of the league's very best players - will be unavailable due to illness. Dallas Stars defenseman Thomas Harley will slot in for Makar on an emergency basis, as Canada was already down a defenseman in Shea Theodore.

Here is the rest of the lineup for Team Canada:

Sullivan's team was brilliant on Thursday, too. Team USA routed Finland, 6-1, making them the only team so far in the 4 Nations Face-off tournament to have three points. They can clinch a spot in Thursday's championship game in Boston with a win in regulation against Canada.

The Tkachuk brothers - Matthew and Brady - led the way for Team USA with two goals each on Thursday. Forward Jake Guentzel - a longtime Penguin before being traded to the Carolina Hurricanes at the 2024 NHL trade deadline - will also be facing former teammate Crosby for the first time internationally, as this is Guentzel's first time donning the red, white, and blue at the professional level.

Here is Team USA's lineup:

Team Canada will have to win in regulation to at least be guaranteed part of a tiebreaker for the championship game.

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