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4 Nations Face-Off: Sweden won't announce starting goalie for Canada matchup

Sweden goaltender Filip Gustavsson during the IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship (2024)
Sweden goaltender Filip Gustavsson during the IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship (2024)Andrzej Iwanczuk/NurPhoto/AP
Sweden head coach Sam Hallam (45) told reporters during media day on Tuesday that everyone will just have to see for themselves who will be the team's starting goaltender come game time against Canada on Wednesday.

Sweden will choose between goaltenders Filip Gustavsson (Minnesota Wild), Linus Ullmark (Ottawa Senators), and Samuel Ersson (Philadelphia Flyers).

Ullmark has the best goals against average (2.49) this season among the three (Gustavsson - 2.63, Ersson - 2.81). 

He's also tied with Gustavsson in save percentage (.915) while Errson is the odd man out with .896.

However, despite the better stats, Ullmark has only played in two games since the turn of the new year due to back complications, leaving Gustavsson as the possible favourite to start.

That being said, if he's back to form, the former Vezina Trophy winner would be the ideal start.

Errson and Gustavsson were both on Sweden's team during the 2024 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship when they won the Bronze medal. Ullmark was also a former member who won a bronze medal in the same tournament - but in 2022. 

No matter who is the choice, they'll have what many are considering the best defensive unit in the entire tournament.

Canada announced earlier today that Jordan Binnington would be the starter for the 4 Nations Face-Off opening matchup against Sweden. 

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