Team Canada confirms line changes, goalie plan before first Olympic game tomorrow
Photo credit: Winslow Townson - Imagn Images
Team Canada is holding their final practice before tomorrow’s first Olympic game against Czechia, and there’s some minor changes to their lineup.
Canada unveiled their lines to the public at their first practice, but then held their next practice closed off from the media. Today’s final practice before their first game tomorrow was opened back up, with some tweaks from the coaching staff.
Team Canada unveiled adjusted lineup before first Olympic game in Milan
According to NHL insiders at practice, Canada’s forward lines have been tweaked to the following combinations:
Connor McDavid’s lines with Macklin Celebrini and Tom Wilson remained intact, as well as Sidney Crosby’s line with Mitch Marner and Mark Stone.
Brandon Hagel and Sam Reinhart have been moved up to skate with Nathan MacKinnon on their apparent 2nd line. Both wingers were previously on the 4th line.
Brad Marchand and Nick Suzuki were bumped down to the new look 4th line centred by Bo Horvat. All defence pairs remained intact from their first practice.
One of the bigger decisions Canada has to make at this year’s Olympics is their goaltending plan, and we’ve now got our first hints.
Canada selected Jordan Binnington due to his experience at the 4 Nations Faceoff, despite Binnington being one of the worst NHL goalies this season with a .864 save percentage. It’s a questionable decision for Canada to feel some loyalty to Binnington, but it appears they’ll roll with him.
Binnington was in one of the starter’s nets at practice, with Darcy Kuemper in the other net. Coach Jon Cooper told media that the team will use two different starters in the first two games - likely Binnington and Kuemper.
Team Canada will still have a chance to beat any team with either goalie, but if they’re rolling with Binnington and Kuemper, they’d be leaving their best goalie off the ice. Logan Thompson has the best NHL stats of the goalie trio, with a stellar .912 save percentage this year. It’d be a mistake not to give him a chance.
We’ll see how the entire lineup shakes out for tomorrow’s game against Czechia at 8:40 AM, MST.
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