Sweden’s Filip Gustavsson expected to start against Finland
It looks like Sweden is going to stick with their guy afterall.
Despite early reports that goaltender Jacob Markstrom might be getting the start for Sweden in a key Group B matchup with Finland, Markstrom let it slip that Filip Gustavsson will be back in net on Friday against their Scandinavian rival.
Filip Gustavsson får chansen mot Finland, råkade Jacob Markström avslöja för TV4. Och Nylander ska vara okej. Tanken är att han spelar 🇸🇪-🇫🇮. #mnwild #LeafsForever
❌ William Nylander saknas återigen på Tre Kronors träning. Filip Forsberg tar hans plats bredvid Eriksson Ek och Kempe just nu. Annars är samtliga spelare på is. Samma backpar och kedjor som mot Italien. 🇸🇪
There was speculation that Markstrom might get the call to start after Gustavsson’s rough performance on the opening day of the tournament against host Italy. While Sweden was able to come away with a win, it wasn’t necessarily a strong performance from Gustavsson. Including a disastrous miscue that led to Italy’s first goal of the game, the Minnesota Wild backstop gave up two goals on 22 shots, relying on the team in front of him to score its way to a 5-2 victory.
Gustavsson didn’t look comfortable by any stretch after giving up the opening goal. While he made some stops as Italy attempted to press, the confidence of the 27-year-old seemed shaken.
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%.
Markstrom made Sweden’s Olympic roster for the first time in his career, but this isn’t the first time he has represented his country on the international stage. He was supposed to play at the 4 Nations Face-Off last February, but an injury led to him being replaced by Samuel Ersson. Markstrom returned to the blue and yellow last spring at the IIHF Men’s World Championship, driving the team to a bronze medal.
With the New Jersey Devils this season, Markstrom has a 15-13-1 record, with a 3.20 goals-against average and a .882 save percentage.
Puck drop between Sweden and Finland is set for 6:10 a.m. ET on Friday.