Breaking down matchups in USA-Canada 4 Nations battle, plus a prediction

MONTREAL — Matthew Tkachuk put it best in his postgame interview with Sportsnet on Thursday night, when the Panthers star said he’s been waiting for Saturday’s match against Canada “for nine years.”So has the rest of the hockey world.There is more than just a big-game feel for the renewal of hostilities between the U.S.and Canada on Bell Centre ice in prime time on Saturday.

There is a Game 7 feel, a Stanley Cup feel, an event-of-the-year feel.Nothing is bigger than Team USA and Canada in a best-on-best tournament, and it’s been nearly a decade since we last saw it.The Post’s Ethan Sears breaks down the matchups.Canada coach Jon Cooper declined to name his starter on Friday, saying he had yet to inform the goalies.There was no need to ask Team USA’s Mike Sullivan the same question.The nature of a best-on-best tournament is such that every player on the ice is capable.

But whether Cooper goes with Jordan Binnington for a second straight game or turns to Adin Hill, Team USA has the upper hand in nets with two-time Vezina winner Connor Hellebuyck.Edge: Team USANeither team’s blue line looks the same as envisioned prior to the tournament.Team USA is without Quinn Hughes, who pulled out late due to injury, and switched its pairs midway through Thursday’s win over Finland, moving Adam Fox alongside Noah Hanifin and Jaccob Slavin with Brock Faber.Canada, though, is near an out-and-out crisis after Shea Theodore suffered a tournament-ending injury in its win over Sweden and top D-man Cale Makar missed Friday’s practice with illness.

Cooper said he was confident Makar would play Saturday, but Thomas Harley — who did not make the original roster and thus is not allowed to practice or skate with the team — is on standby to join in case Canada goes down to five defensemen.Travis Sanheim will draw in for Theodore.Edge: Team USAPutting Brady and Matthew Tkachuk on either side of Jack Eichel was an inspired — and possibly game-saving — choice from...