Canada will stick with a winning formula.
Goalie Jordan Binnington will start the team's Olympic opener against Czechia, Hockey Canada announced on Thursday.
Binnington started all four games in last February's 4 Nations Face-Off as Canada took the title over the U.S. Lukáš Dostál will get the start for the Czechs.
However, the St. Louis Blues netminder has struggled badly in the NHL this season, carrying an .864 save percentage and 3.65 goals-against average — numbers that are significantly exceeded by fellow Canadian goalie Logan Thompson at .912 and 2.45 with the Washington Capitals.
Still, Cooper is giving the first shot to Binnington, who also led the Blues to the 2019 Stanley Cup as a rookie.
"On the biggest stage, at the biggest moment, at the biggest time, he delivered," Cooper said on Wednesday.
Darcy Kuemper of the Los Angeles Kings is the third goalie on the Canadian roster.
The Canadians are right back in action Friday, when they take on Switzerland before finishing the round robin against France.
