4 Nations Ice Chips: Gustavsson to start for Sweden vs. Canada
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Keep up to date with all the latest injury updates and news during the 4 Nations Face-Off.
Sweden
Minnesota Wild goaltender Filip Gustavsson will start Wednesday's game against Canada.
Ottawa Senators goaltender Linus Ullmark worked in the starter's net during Sweden's gameday, but remained on the ice after Gustavsson.
Gustavsson, 26, has a 22-11-3 record with the Minnesota Wild this season with a .915 save percentage and a 2.63 GAA. He will go head-to-head with Jordan Binnington, who was named Canada's starter on Tuesday.
Head coach Sam Hallam said he would wait until gameday to name his starter, with the choice between Gustavsson, Ullmark and Sam Ersson.
Ullmark, 31, has a 12-9-2 record this season with a .915 save percentage and a 2.49 goals-against average. He recently missed roughly a month of action due to a back injury.
Named as an injury replacement for Jacob Markstrom, Ersson is 16-10-3 with a .896 save percentage and a 2.81 GAA with the Philadelphia Flyers.
Canada
Florida Panthers forward Sam Bennett and Philadelphia Flyers defenceman Travis Sanheim appear set to serve as healthy scratches for Team Canada in their opening game against Sweden at the 4 Nations Face-Off.
Canada held an optional skate on Wednesday, with captain Sidney Crosby and star centre Connor McDavid among those taking part.
Bennett and Sanheim were the last skaters on the ice, along with goaltenders Adin Hill, who will back up starter Jordan Binnington, and Sam Montembault, who will not dress.
Bennett has 18 goals and 35 points in 55 games this season. He posted seven goals and 14 points in 19 games during the Panthers run to the Stanley Cup last spring.
The 28-year-old winger worked in practice Monday on Canada's fourth line as Travis Konecny missed the session due to illness.
Sanheim, also 28, has six goals and 27 points in 57 games this season with the Flyers. He posted a career-high 10 goals and 44 points in 81 games last season.
Finland
Finland held it's second practice on Wednesday, with Juuse Saros appearing to be in line for the starting role.
Saros held his own net at the team's practice, while Kevin Lankinen and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen shared the other. The Nashville Predators netminder has struggled this season with an 11-23-6 with an .899 save percentage and a 2.95 GAA.
Artturi Lehkonen joined former Colorado Avalanche teammate Mikko Rantanen on the top line on each side of centre Aleksander Barkov. Sebastian Aho centred a second line with Roope Hintz and Patrik Laine.
United States
Head coach Mike Sullivan said Wednesday the team has chosen a starting goaltender, but would not reveal it.
The Americans have the strongest goaltending group in the tournament with Winnipeg Jets star Connor Hellebuyck, Jake Oettinger of the Dallas Stars and Boston Bruins netminder Jeremy Swayman available to them.
Hellebuyck has been the league's best goaltender this season with a 34-7-2 record and a .925 save percentage and a 2.07 GAA.
Chris Kreider was once again the 13th forward for Team USA as the team held their practice on Wednesday.
The United States will take on Finland in their first game on Thursday.
Ottawa Senators defenceman Jake Sanderson skated as the extra player on the blueline. He was a late addition to the roster, replacing Vancouver Canucks star Quinn Hughes.