Did Sweden start the wrong goalie in 4 Nations Face-Off matchup vs. Finland?

MONTREAL According to Team Sweden coach Sam Hallam, Filip Gustavsson was healthy before Saturdays game against Finland.

But by the time the first period ended, the starting goalie was not feeling well enough for Hallam to believe he was ready to continue.

It just so happened that Sweden was down, 2-1.

Advertisement Hes feeling a bit under the weather, Hallam said after Swedens 4-3 overtime loss.

So it was more a medical decision than game decision.

No injury, nothing.

He was under the weather.

It is unknown whether Gustavsson started feeling poorly during the game or before the puck dropped.

Had it been the latter and Gustavsson informed the staff of his condition, Linus Ullmark would have had the net from the beginning.

If he would have felt anything before the game, we probably would have made a change earlier, Hallam said.

I dont want to give any kind of negative criticism to his game.

Two goals on four shots is ugly for any goalie.

But considering the quality of Finlands first-period chances, Gustavsson was the victim of bad luck.

Gustavssons teammates let him down on Finlands first goal.

Mika Zibanejad and William Nylander were caught below the goal line while forechecking.

Considering how far his linemates were up the ice, it was Rickard Rakells responsibility to be the high forward when Esa Lindell rimmed the puck around the wall.

MIKA ZIBANEJAD STRIKES FIRST FOR SWEDEN OFF THE FINLAND TURNOVER #4Nations pic.twitter.com/BZUXq8H2fu Hockey Daily 365 l NHL Highlights & News (@HockeyDaily365) February 15, 2025 But Rakell did not get above the puck when Patrik Laine settled Lindells clearing attempt.

At the same time, Rasmus Dahlin pinched down the right-side wall without help back.

When Laine backhanded the puck off the boards, Eetu Luostarinen and Anton Lundell had a two-on-one rush against Gustav Forsling.

We gave up a really simple situation to Finlands first goal, Hallam said.

I think the game changed a bit there.

Luostarinen slipped a slot-line pass through Forsling, his Florida Panthers teammate, to Lundell.

Gustavsson had no chance to stop Lundells one-timer.

Advertisement At 19:34 of the first, Victor Hedman was called for tripping.

Twelve seconds later, Mikko Rantanen fluttered a knuckling one-timer past Gustavsson.

The goalie followed Laines slot-line pass and pushed from right to left.

He was square to Rantanen.

But the change-of-pace knuckler slipped through Gustavsson, giving Finland a critical one-goal lead heading into the first intermission.

The power-play goal they scored, I wish he would have hit it harder, Hallam said of Rantanens partially whiffed one-timer.

I think he would have saved it.

MOOOOOSE!! Mikko Rantanen puts Finland ahead in the final moments of the first period! #4Nations : ABC & @ESPNPlus https://t.co/S5tPrXCygm : @Sportsnet or stream on Sportsnet+ https://t.co/4KjbdjVctF pic.twitter.com/VQPJAXtEmZ NHL (@NHL) February 15, 2025 At the Bell Centre, there is no room for the visiting goalie to sit on the bench with his teammates.

As the backup, Linus Ullmark, from his seat in the tunnel across the ice, had a step on his teammates to return to the dressing room.

Ullmark quickly learned the net would be his to start the second.

He got right into his usual intermission routine.

It doesnt matter if I start the game or I end up coming in in the second, third or in the middle of any period, Ullmark said.

Just go about your day as always.

Thats what it means to be a professional.

It doesnt matter if youre on the bench, off to the side or on the ice.

Ullmark was on from the start.

At 3:46 of the second, Ullmark got square to Aleksander Barkov, Finlands best player, and stopped his slot shot.

Less than a minute later, Ullmark turned back Artturi Lehkonens Grade-A between-the-dots chance.

He was square and patient, letting pucks come to him.

Meanwhile, Rasmus Dahlin and Erik Karlsson scored in the second to put Sweden up 3-2.

The Swedes were rolling.

Advertisement But the Finns punched back.

Again, they exploited Swedens center-ice game.

Gustav Nyquist did not have the legs to deny Barkovs rush through the neutral zone.

This gave Olli Maatta a look from the right circle with Barkov and Kaapo Kakko in front.

Ullmark used overlap to cover the strong-side post and square up to Maattas shot.

But Maatta passed to the net front instead.

Barkov gained far-side position on Jonas Brodin and tipped Maattas pass past Ullmark to tie the game, 3-3.

In overtime, Kevin Lankinen stuffed Adrian Kempes jam off the rush.

Mikael Granlund and Niko Mikkola got away for an odd-man rush against Karlsson.

Granlund got inside the right dot and whipped the winner through Ullmarks pads.

Sucks, Ullmark said.

Always sucks losing.

Doesnt matter if its the Finns, Canada, whatever it is.

Always sucks losing.

Both of Finlands goals on Ullmark were no-chancers.

This leaves Hallam with a decision, pending Gustavssons health, for Mondays showdown against Team USA at Bostons TD Garden, Ullmarks former home rink.

Ullmark or Gustavsson? If I get the call, Ill honor it, said Ullmark.

Ill go out there and do my very best.

If I dont get the call, Im still going to do my very best with the hand Ive been dealt.

Playing (vs.) USA in USA is a pretty fun thing to do.

We already played Canada here in Montreal.

I would say its another great opportunity for a lot of us to get valuable experience in our careers.

(Photo of Filip Gustavsson: Eric Bolte / Imagn Images).

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