Juuse Saros to Start vs. United States; Finland Mask Design Unveiled

The Predators goalie has been named Finland's starter for Thursday's 4 Nations Face-Off game against the United States.

Star Nashville Predators goalie Juuse Saros will start Finland's 4 Nations Face-Off matchup with the United States Thursday night, Finland head coach Antti Pennanen announced Wednesday.

Saros, 29, takes the starter's mantle for Finland ahead of compatriots Kevin Lankinen, his former Predators backup, and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen. 

Saros last repped Finland's colors in the 2016 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship, where he went 2-0-0 and stopped all 27 shots he faced across two starts. The longtime Predators netminder served as the backup to former NHL goalie Mikko Koskinen in that tournament; Koskinen went 7-1-0 with a 1.13 GAA, a .947 save percentage, and one shutout in his eight appearances.

Saros and Finland ultimately lost 2-0 to Canada in the gold medal game. Former Predators forward Matt Duchene assisted Connor McDavid's game-winning goal and scored one of his own.

First look at Saros's new Finland mask

At the 4 Nations Face-Off, Saros will be rocking a new, blue mask designed and painted by none other than David Gunnarsson, aka 'DaveArt'.

Some prominent features on the new bucket include a large blue lion, the Helsinki skyline, a Suomi crest on each ear, Saros's No. 74 outlined in blue and filled in with silver holographic glitter, and Suomi written in a large font across the top.

Gunnarsson also designed 4 Nations masks for Lankinen, Luukkonen, Linus Ullmark, and Sam Ersson. 

For Predators fans looking to catch Saros, his new mask, and some of his former Predators teammates, like Lankinen, on the ice at the 4 Nations, Finland will play the U.S. at 7 p.m. on Thursday night. ESPN and ESPN+ will have the broadcast capturing all the action.

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