OverDrive - Binnington on the 4 Nations Face-Off experience, winning with Canada and his impactful saves

Episode Date: February 24, 2025

St. Louis Blues Goaltender Jordan Binnington joined OverDrive to discuss the perspective of winning with Canada at the 4 Nations Face-Off, the Championship Game against the United States, the impactful saves in the game, returning back to NHL games and more.

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K-N-O-W-M-O-R-E.CA. Jordan Bennington, we know how he played. Played all four games for Canada, then he played last night against Colorado. It was outstanding. So there was no drop off for him. Let's bring him in now. Here he is, the starting goalie for Canada and for the St. Louis Blues. There's Jordan Bennington. What's happening, Jordan? Hey guys, thanks for having me on. only for Canada and for the St. Louis Blues. There's Jordan Binnington. What's happening, Jordan? Hey, guys, thanks for having me on. Absolutely. Thank you for doing this.

Were you obviously you played really well last night. Were you concerned at all of the drop off or, you know, what were you expecting? I guess going from four nations back into resuming NHL play. You know what? It was a little a little bit of an adjustment. Things have happened so so fast, right? Like we just kind of finished up and then got right back into work mode in season. And it was kind of obviously just such a different pace, like coming from the finals and that just level of intensity and then going to overtime and then you're

back at you know just it was just a different pace right it's not as intense as everyone laying it all on the line for a championship game from start to finish you kind of it was a game that that built and got more intense as it went along and fortunately came out the win but it felt felt nice being back out there too. So anything get said in between the third period and going into overtime in that final game? Did anybody have a resounding speech or a leader stand up in the room or was it just business as usual? I think it was just the mindset of like, shooters got a shoot uh... be selfish uh... you know obviously it's a one shot wins it in overtime and everyone uh... it was just really positive and there was no panic it was

it was common and disguise have been in these situations before uh... and you know i remember five or six different guys speaking up and saying a different comment uh... you know it is in the dressing room in between periods. Can you take us inside, Coop, when he grabbed you after the game? I mean, I know it was a private conversation, but I'm sure you just didn't say great win, great game. Was there something a little bit extra from the coach there at the end?

Yeah, I wish I could remember all of it uh... but it was a certain in the moment moments and uh... you know we were just saying uh... you know he's proud of me and and just we're just running through you know what just happened in uh... just such an incredible uh... thing to take in uh... and just yeah it was a special uh... connection between us at that

that time. With Jordan Bennington, did he make it clear to you, John Cooper, that prior to the tournament you were the guy, no one else was getting any play, like you were going to play and that was going to be it? What was your understanding of the goaltending battle before the tournament even started uh... he's such a he's such a prepared but also off the cuff uh... guy and uh... you know we we

we had just some private conversations for the tournaments and uh... we went game by game and then uh... you know i just i was just grateful then and are to be selected as the guy in uh... in those games and i was just anything could happen right in any certain game to change whatever is going on and so it was it was more of a Go with the flow situation and

And he did you know and still believe for sure So Jordan on the biggest stage in a game seven on the road in that building you won and won a Stanley Cup. Were you able to draw a little bit from that experience, the magnitude to go into that final game in the same building? Absolutely. You know how it is as a goalie, right?

You just, you got to find a way to be present and do your job and remind yourself that no matter what significance or level or time of the game, timing of the game, it's the same game and it's the same approach. And then saying that, you know, the experience over these last, you seventy years in my life uh... i'd believe uh... came into play and uh... yeah you know it's it's just it's a do or die situation and uh... and they're they're so fun to be a part of the it's work when you're in it but

then just you know that feeling at the end was uh... is what you work for which are the victim of uh... team canada saint louis blueson you're playing overtime uh... obviously was phenomenal and you know you save the game on multiple occasions there were four stops in particular that we've been buzzing about since thursday night

the three on matthews the one word you see it right here in your screen gets all back door you get your blocker on it matthews got one off as well that went top shelf off the draw that you stopped. And then there was the third one where he comes in and goes kind of low stick that then led to Kachuk backdoor that you dove for. So four stops that were grade A plus plus plus. Was there one of those in particular, if you had to rank them,

which one was the toughest one now that you know You stop them all I mean, I'd say my favorite is the one off the draw Just with I remember because when you're in that in that mode You're just you know in in that flow state per se and I remember after that glove save just hearing the crowds reaction and and that's one that stands out to me that it was it was pretty cool just to hear that and feel that so did you hear the Canadian crowd or you hearing the Americans like kind of humming and

hollering no it's kind of like an oh kind of reaction. Just like deflated. I can't believe you stopped that. Yeah, it was incredible. It was incredible. So Jordan Biddickton, go ahead, Noodles. So you guys win and everybody is back to business. We talked about it last week.

I don't know if you would have preferred the extra day off or played Wednesday because everyone had to travel and then it was right back into games. How tough was that to get back into a daytime routine, getting back with the Blues as opposed to kind of chaos it was with Team Canada and playing against the Americans on that Thursday night? It was a quick turnaround. Yeah, it was definitely a topic of conversation. Quick turnaround back into regular season play for sure, but at the same time, you know,

there was a lot on the line and we were building up the game and gave us more time to prepare. So either situation would have worked, I think. But you know, you just got it you got to adapt. Were you I'm curious your mentality going into the tournament because everyone had a different viewpoint of what this would look like what it would feel like it was you know a one-off we've never seen anything like it Four Nations face-off and replace replacement of the the All-Star game I'm not sure we'll ever see it again uh... meet expectations exceed expectations like where will this rank for you in

terms of career highlights uh... it definitely exceeded expectations and i'd truly believe the nl did such a tremendous job putting it on and and then hockey can on top of that they're just they really not to take care and make it so that we can just focus on playing hockey. But yeah, so I would say it's up there and just being in a best on best situation is just, it's another level and everyone rises up and you know,

you're out there with guys who are, want to be the best versions of themselves, want to be the best players in the league. And then obviously the country aspect of playing for your country and knowing what's on the line and knowing, you know, it's just there's nothing like that. And I think it was just really good for the game to with how it all played out and to do this tournament. So we've got Craig Berubi here in Toronto now. I played with Craig in Calgary. You want a cup with him. You've had a lot of different coaches now in not only in St. Louis but

you mentioned how John Cooper approaches the game and you know take us through the mindset of Craig Berubi and Craig Berube and how he treats his goaltenders, what type of communication you have and how intense he can get maybe in the room or even on the bench. Yeah, he's one of my favorites, one of our favorites here obviously. Both of those guys are just so good at reading the locker room and knowing what needs to be said at certain times. And I think that's really the, the art of coaching is, is getting the best out of your

players and, and then having that presence of when to strike. And yeah, you know, chief, he's great. We have a great relationship and you know, I think with him it's a long season, right? so I think he goes through the goalie coach a little bit more too and As opposed to that just quick strike tournament and with coop there Well Jordan, it was awesome to see you know You your teammates everyone do what they did over the last week and a half two weeks and congrats on a win last night transitioning back into play with the blues and we look forward to tracking you the next 12 months before we get to the olympic games because best on best it's not

going anywhere it's been a long time but it's great to have you guys back and doing what you were doing so congrats on a win and i know it's been a whirlwind couple weeks so we appreciate you doing this today i think that's uh... has a fraud that's awesome uh... this little way out haze uh... and i'm out jordan bennett that made my year that was so unnecessary and i swear to god i

did not put him up to that i don't know that he is after i don't know if it's a body of a hundred percent will get their store could have been Joe from the bridge Joe from the bridge was bothering him on FaceTime before he came on oh guarantee anybody said he got to drop this I'll support that guy forever so alive so alive never ever doubting anything that guy brings to the table that's the highest profile haste is a fraud we've had yet I know I got to recover from it. George Finnington just smacking me around on the way A champion. I love that that really caught me off guard. I wasn't expecting that either

I thought it was gonna be a quick thanks for hat cuz he's you know, he's just kind of laid back Yeah, a reserve guy. I thought it was gonna be thanks guys See you later And he comes out with a over the top and then goes like this and hits end video. Like doesn't even think twice. Yeah, with the ET finger. Yeah, see you later guys. All right. There you go. Jordan Bennington. My guy, Jordan Bennington. Love that guy. This February, iHeartRadio celebrates Black History Month by amplifying the voices that define black excellence.

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