Kevin Lankinen was the backup for Team Finland in their 6-1 loss to Team USA.
Kevin Lankinen was the backup for Team Finland in their 6-1 loss to Team USA.
Team Finland will have a different starting goaltender on Saturday at the 4 Nations Face-Off. After Nashville Predators goaltender Juuse Saros allowed six goals on 32 shots, Finland is turning to Vancouver Canucks goalie Kevin Lankinen for their must-win game against Team Sweden. Head Coach Antti Pennanen made the announcement during his media availability on Friday, which came just a day after Team Finland lost 6-1 to Team USA in their first game of the tournament.
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While Saros has a strong track record in the NHL, Lankinen has been the better goaltender this year. In his first season with the Canucks, Lankinen has a record of 19-8-7 and has posted four shutouts. Earlier this year, Lankinen also set an NHL record by winning his first ten games on the road to start a season.
Saturday is a must-win for Finland as they are the only team without a point in the 4 Nations Face-Off. Only the top two teams from the tournament advance to the final, meaning Finland needs a regulation win in order to keep their championship dreams alive. The 4 Nations Face-Off uses a 3-2-1 point system, meaning that teams get three points for a regulation win, compared to two if their victory comes in either overtime or a shootout.
Finland versus Sweden will also be a must-watch for Canucks fans as Lankinen will face off against Elias Pettersson. In his first game for Sweden, Pettersson recorded a shot, a hit and a blocked shot in 16:32 of ice time. Puck drop for Finland versus Sweden is set for 10:00 am PT and can be viewed on Sportsnet.
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