Wild’s Filip Gustavsson expected to start Sweden’s Olympic men’s hockey opener
One of the top netminders in the NHL is expected to lead his team onto the ice in Milan.
News coming out of Sweden’s men’s morning skate on Wednesday was that goaltender Filip Gustavsson was the first goaltender off the ice. It signals that the Minnesota Wild netminder might be Tre Kronor’s starter for the team’s first game of the Winter Olympics, as Sweden opens its Group B schedule against Italy.
Inget bekräftat, men detta är en trolig line up för Tre Kronor 🇸🇪 Gustavsson Forsling – Dahlin Broberg – Karlsson Hedman – Andersson Ekman-Larsson Kempe – Eriksson Ek – Nylander Bratt – Lindholm – Raymond Zibanejad – Pettersson – Rakell Landeskog – Wennberg – Holmberg Forsberg
Head coach Sam Hallam didn’t officially reveal who will be between the pipes on Wednesday.
If true, Gustavsson would’ve beaten out Wild teammate Jesper Wallstedt and New Jersey Devils netminder Jacob Markstrom for the No. 1 job at the start of the tournament.
While Markstrom certainly has more years on him, Gustavsson has been having an incredible season in Minnesota. In 36 starts, the 27-year-old has a record of 20-9-6, with a 2.64 goals-against average, .907 save percentage and three shutouts. Along with Wallstedt’s impressive play, the Wild card near the top of the Central Division, quietly closing the gap on the league-leading Colorado Avalanche.
Gustavsson was the main starter for Sweden during last year’s 4 Nations Face-Off. In playing two of the team’s three contests, he went 0-2 with a 4.18 GAA and a .813 SV%.
The Skellefteå native has tasted success on the international stage, along with winning silver medals at the IIHF World Junior Championship, IIHF Under-18 Men’s World Champinship and Hlinka Gretzky Cup, Gustavsson helped Sweden win bronze at the 2024 IIHF Men’s World Championship.
Puck drop between Sweden and Italy at Milano Santagiulia IHO is set for 3:10 p.m. ET.