Though Binnington has struggled at times this season for St. Louis, going 15-19-4 with a 2.89 goals-against average, .896 save percentage and three shutouts in 39 games (38 starts), his big-game experience is one of the reasons he will start Wednesday.
“This kid’s played in some huge moments, some huge games,” Cooper said.
Unquestionably, the biggest games he has played in were during the 2018-19 season, when the then-25-year-old helped lead the Blues to the Stanley Cup, defeating the Boston Bruins in Game 7 at TD Garden for their first championship.
In that playoff run, Binnington went 16-10 with a 2.46 GAA, .914 save percentage and one shutout in 26 starts. That, after coming up to the NHL in December of that season, helping St. Louis climb from last place in the League to Stanley Cup champs.
Canada general manager Don Sweeney, who is also the GM of the Bruins, was on the losing side of Binnington’s greatness that postseason.
“I had a front-row seat to Jordan Binnington rising to that occasion,” Sweeney said, “so I have no qualms about which goaltender is going into the net.”
Canada defenseman and Blues teammate Colton Parayko also had an up-close look at Binnington’s Cup-winning performance and has had it ever since.
“I know how good of a goaltender he is and what he brings, it’s definitely well-earned,” Parayko said. “And we’re obviously going to put our best foot forward to do what we can to make it as easy as possible for him tomorrow, and when it comes down to him, we know he’s there to back it up.
“He’s been a big-time goalie, big-time games. He shows up in big games and gets the job done.”
Hill, who won the Stanley Cup with the Vegas Golden Knights in 2023, will back up Binnington on Wednesday.
Forward Brandon Hagel said Canada has all the confidence in Binnington.
“Unbelievable guy. Good goalie. Competitive goalie,” Hagel said. “That’s what you want behind you. You want a guy that’s going to go in there with a lot of confidence, a guy that’s going to compete for you no matter what.
“That’s the best example you can put out there for Binnington. He’s going to give you 100 percent.”
