Jordan Binnington showing Canada that winning big games is just a part of his process

Chris Jones reports from Milan.

Jordan Binnington doesn’t have habits. He has rituals.

After he led Canada’s men out for warmups before their Olympics opener against Czechia Thursday, he found a bundle of pucks and skated behind his net, same as always. He began banking clearances to his left and right, reading the caroms off the glass and boards, futureproofing himself against bad bounces.

Then he skated into his goal and readied to warm up his hands. Puck after puck came his way. Puck after puck found his glove, like dozens of birds landing in the same nest.

“I’m just in my own process, my day-to-day, doing my thing,” he said after he turned his pre-game rituals into in-game reality. Canada was dominant in a 5-0 win, and Binnington stopped 26 shots, including a terrific sprawling save on David Kampf when the game was still scoreless.

Entering the first best-on-best Olympics since 2014, Canada’s goaltending, and Binnington’s seeming hold on the starting job over Logan Thompson and Darcy Kuemper, was the most divisive internal and external argument, a microcosm of the forever debate between numbers and feel.

Binnington has a reputation for elevating his play when it matters most, the way he did during last February’s 4 Nations Face-Off and the 2019 Stanley Cup Final. But he’s enduring a miserable NHL season. His .864 save percentage with bottom-dwelling St. Louis is the third worst in the league, and his 3.64 goals against average is the second worst.

Thompson, who was named Thursday’s backup, doesn’t have the same experience or aura but is in much better form, with a .912 save percentage and 2.45 goals against average, both in the top 10 among NHL goaltenders.

Jon Cooper, Canada’s head coach, has never really wavered in his commitment to Binnington, despite his refusal to name him the first-game starter beforehand.

Even Binnington wasn’t sure when he’d found out. “Sometime [Wednesday], maybe?” he said.

After Thursday’s win, Cooper was asked when, in fact, he’d made his decision.

“Probably 358 days ago,” he said, referring to the 4 Nations, when Binnington made several stunning saves against the Americans in the final, essentially winning the game.

“He needs to perform,” Cooper said. “This isn’t a loyalty thing. But I have the utmost confidence in that kid. He’s proven it, even when he’s had little stumbles, when push comes to shove, the kid’s been there for us… I feel like he’s deserved this opportunity. You gotta give the kid a shot.”

The kid, who’s 32 years old, took it.