If Ottawa Senators' Brady Tkachuk suits up against the Montreal Canadiens, he’d better keep his head up, says Arber Xhekaj.

Tkachuk (illness) was at morning skate and will be available for the United States in Thursday's showdown with Canada at the 4 Nations Face-off championship game, Eric Engels of Sportsnet reports. Tkachuk is ready to go after missing practice Wednesday.

Tkachuk, who left Team USA's 2-1 loss to Sweden on Monday due to a lower-body injury, was absent from Wednesday's practice because of an illness, according to Scott McLaughlin of WEEI. Team USA coach Mike Sullivan still believes Tkachuk will play Thursday versus Canada.

Tkachuk (lower body) is slated to play in Thursday's 4 Nations Face-Off game versus Canada, Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet reports. Tkachuk left Monday's 2-1 loss to Sweden at 5:12 of the first period after crashing into the Swedish net behind Samuel Ersson.

Won't return against Sweden

Brady and brother Matthew Tkachuk played together internationally for the first time in their careers, and they delivered four goals and an assist on the night. And of course, they were both involved in the kind of chippy action that dad,

It's safe to say that Team USA winger Brady Tkachuk is fired up for Saturday night. The 25-year-old and current Ottawa Senators captain scored two goals for the USA in the team's 6-1 victory over Finland on Thursday in its first game of the 2025 4 Nations Face-Off event.

Per TSN 1200 Ottawa, Tkachuk (rest) will be a game-time decision versus Montreal on Saturday, according to coach Travis Green. Tkachuk is coming off a tough loss Thursday against Canada and may need the night off as the Senators next play Wednesday against the Jets.

Sanderson (rest) will be a game-time decision Saturday versus the Canadiens, TSN 1200 Ottawa reports. Sanderson and teammate Brady Tkachuk played for the Americans in Thursday's finale against Canada in the 4 Nations Face-Off and will get another four days of rest if they sit out Saturday's tilt against Montreal.

The United States and Canada are heading to overtime in the 4 Nation Face-Off final. Playing in front of a home crowd at TD Garden in Boston, the U.S. was tied 2-2 with Brady Tkachuk and Jake Sanderson scoring for the Americans.

Norris and Pinto have been hurt since the beginning of the month and still can’t play. The Senators have lost four consecutive games without the latter two since Feb. 4, including when Pinto lasted under three minutes before leaving due to injury against the Tampa Bay Lightning that night.