MONTREAL — Kevin Lankinen has been named the starting goalie for Finland in their upcoming match against Sweden in the 4 Nations Face-Off, according to coach Antti Pennanen. Lankinen’s promotion comes after Juuse Saros struggled significantly in the tournament opener, where he conceded six goals on 32 shots in a 6-1 defeat against the United States. “We have three solid goaltenders,” Pennanen remarked following Friday’s practice. “Juuse performed well for the first two periods, but we need to adjust after such a loss. Kevin has been in good form recently, which influenced our decision.”
Saros has faced challenges that have carried over from an uneven season in the NHL with the Nashville Predators, where he has won only 12 out of 41 games and currently holds a 2.95 goals-against average, placing him 38th among goaltenders, along with an .899 save percentage. Reflecting on his performance against the U.S., Saros commented, “You always want to contribute more to your team in situations like that.” Notably, Saros is scheduled to begin his new eight-year contract worth $61.92 million next season.
On the other hand, Lankinen has posted a record of 19 wins and 8 losses, with a 2.53 GAA and .905 save percentage while playing for the Vancouver Canucks. He is currently earning just above the league minimum salary at $875,000. Having gone undrafted, Lankinen climbed his way up through the minor leagues in both Finland and North America. “I believe there is so much more I can achieve, and I feel like I have made consistent progress each season,” Lankinen stated. “Parts of my game are coming together, but I am aware that there’s still a lot ahead of me.”
Coach Pennanen suggested that he may implement additional changes to the lineup after Kaapo Kakko and Juuso Valimaki were scratched from the previous game, though he remained tight-lipped about specifics. Valimaki confirmed he would not be participating. “We might consider changes; you’ll find out tomorrow,” Pennanen said. “After a 6-1 loss, adjustments are necessary, but the details will be disclosed later.”
In other news, Cale Makar, the top defenseman for Canada, is anticipated to return to face the U.S. after missing a practice due to illness. Coach Jon Cooper expressed caution, stating, “Expect is a strong term, but I am optimistic about his availability.” Canada’s defensive corps has become thin after Shea Theodore sustained an injury in the second period of their game against Sweden, leading to his exit from the tournament. Travis Sanheim has stepped in to fill Theodore’s spot on the roster.
For the forward line, Sam Bennett is likely to replace Travis Konecny. Cooper has also formed a new line featuring Bennett centering Brad Marchand and Seth Jarvis, alongside players he has coached with the Tampa Bay Lightning, Anthony Cirelli, Brayden Point, and Brandon Hagel.
As for the U.S. team, Coach Mike Sullivan is being discreet about potential lineup changes. “We always evaluate the possibility of lineup adjustments,” he commented on Friday. Following their victory over Finland, Sullivan granted his players a day off. Despite there being healthy scratches like Chris Kreider and Jake Sanderson from earlier matches, the convincing win might encourage the coaching staff to maintain the same group of forwards and defensemen.
A notable tactical adjustment during the game was the pairing of brothers Matthew and Brady Tkachuk, who were highly effective against Finland. Sullivan also tinkered with the defensive pairings, aligning Noah Hanifin with Adam Fox and Jaccob Slavin with Brock Faber. “There were specific reasons for the shifts in our defensive pairs,” Sullivan explained. “We believed these changes could enhance our chances by allowing us to create more favorable matchups.”
