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4 Nations Face-Off roster deadline is approaching. Which NHL goalies could make it?

mike brehm, usa today
·3 min read

The NHL is taking a break in February to play the international 4 Nations Face-Off featuring league players from the United States, Canada, Finland and Sweden.

Each country has named its first six players and the rest of the 23-player rosters (20 skaters, three goaltenders) will be named weeks from now between Nov. 29 and Dec. 2.

So far only one goaltender has been named - the Nashville Predators' Juuse Saros by Team Finland - meaning 11 more need to be named by the deadline. Players must be on NHL rosters by Dec. 2 to be included.

USA TODAY takes a look at goaltending possibilities for the tournament and how those players are faring:

Goalie Connor Hellebuyck has won the Vezina Trophy twice, including last season.
Goalie Connor Hellebuyck has won the Vezina Trophy twice, including last season.

United States

Analysis: An injury to Vancouver Canucks goalie Thatcher Demko, who has yet to play this season, takes a key player out of the mix. But goaltending will be a strength for the United States if this is the trio. Hellebuyck is a two-time Vezina Trophy winner and helped the Jets to an NHL-record 14-1 start this season. He leads the league with 11 victories and has a 1.83 goals-against average. Oettinger has led the Stars to the Western Conference final the past two seasons. He has had a couple poor performances recently after a strong start. Swayman had a playoff-best .933 save percentage last season. Hellebuyck is the No. 1 choice.

Other options: Joey Daccord, Seattle

Finland

Analysis: Two-time All-Star Saros could get most of the starts at the tournament, but Lankinen has the best numbers among Finnish goaltenders as he fills in for an injured Demko. Luukkonen was named the NHL's third star of the week on Monday but then was pulled in that afternoon's start. Finland is known for producing NHL-caliber goalies and that will be a strength in February.

Other options: Justus Annunen, Colorado; Joel Blomqvist, Pittsburgh

Sweden

Analysis: Ullmark likely gets the No. 1 nod as the 2022-23 Vezina Trophy winner. Or does Gustavsson, who has only two regulation losses and a .922 save percentage early this season for the strong starting Wild? Ullmark, who was hurt at the beginning of the season, has a .890 save percentage. Markstrom has had ups and downs this season after his trade to New Jersey, but he has seven wins and a shutout.

Other options: Samuel Ersson, Philadelphia

Canada

Analysis: Binnington (2019) and Hill (2023) won Stanley Cups and Skinner reached the Stanley Cup Final last season, but generally Canada is considered to have the weakest goaltending of the tournament. That has probably raised the profile of Washington's Thompson, who is 7-0 while making every other start. The Capitals prevailed 8-1 in a recent meeting of Binnington and Thompson. Montreal's Sam Montembeault drew a lot of talk after a 48-save shutout in the opener, but he has dropped off. He helped Canada win the 2023 world championships. There could be sentiment to name Minnesota's Marc-Andre Fleury for his locker-room presence and because he's retiring after this season.

Other options: Darcy Kuemper, Los Angeles; Montembeault; Fleury

When is the 4 Nations Face-Off?

The tournament will be played from Feb. 12-20 at Montreal's Bell Centre and Boston's TD Garden.

4 Nations Face-Off schedule

(Times p.m. ET)

Wednesday, Feb. 12:  Canada vs. Sweden at Montreal, 8, TNT

Thursday, Feb. 13: USA vs. Finland at Montreal, 8, ESPN

Saturday, Feb. 15: Finland vs. Sweden at Montreal, 1, ABC

Saturday, Feb. 15: USA vs. Canada at Montreal, 8, ABC

Monday, Feb. 17: Canada vs. Finland at Boston, 1, TNT

Monday, Feb. 17:  Sweden vs. USA at Boston, 8, TNT

Thursday, Feb. 20: Championship game at Boston, 8, ESPN

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 4 Nations Face-Off goaltending possibilities for NHL tournament