As the 4 Nations tournament marches on, Team Finland is making a change between the pipes ahead of their Saturday morning matchup against Team Sweden. Vancouver Canucks netminder Kevin Lankinen will get the start, replacing Juuse Saros, who struggled in Finland’s opening 6-1 loss to Team USA.
USA kicked off their first game of the #4Nations Face-Off with a big 6-1 win over Finland and we've got your highlights right here! ⬇️
📺: Don't miss the USA vs. Canada tomorrow at 8p ET on ABC, @ESPNPlus, @DisneyPlus, @Sportsnet and @TVASports! pic.twitter.com/iouTLpaJET
— NHL (@NHL) February 14, 2025
Saros, typically one of the NHL’s most reliable goalies with a .916 save percentage over the past five seasons, has had a tough year. Playing behind a struggling Nashville Predators team, the 29-year-old has posted a career-low .898 save percentage through 41 starts, and his struggles carried into Finland’s tournament opener. Despite a strong start in that game, Finland couldn’t hold off the U.S. attack, forcing head coach Antti Pennanen to make a switch.
Lankinen, who joined the Canucks as a career backup, has put up standout numbers this season, including a .905 save percentage, four shutouts, and an NHL-record 10-0-0 road start. He holds a 19-8-7 record with a 2.53 goals-against average, making him a reliable alternative for Finland. At just $875,000, he has been a bargain for Vancouver, proving his value as a starter and providing stability during uncertainty in the Canucks’ goalie room with Demko dealing with a nagging knee injury.
“It’s not just playing against the best, but representing your own country. That’s what we work so hard for.”
🗣️ Kevin Lankinen speaks with the media following Team Finland practice at the Bell Centre. pic.twitter.com/sjD17ptKHG
— Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks) February 14, 2025
Lankinen will face Swedish goaltender Filip Gustavsson, who was confirmed as Sweden’s starter on Friday. Gustavsson played in Sweden’s 4-3 overtime loss to Canada, stopping 24 of 28 shots.
“We have three good goalies. It’s a good situation for us,” Pennanen said. “Juuse was really good for 40 minutes, but when you lose 6-1, you have to do something. Kevin has played well lately, so that was behind the decision.”
Lankinen has proven his ability on the international stage before. He last played for Finland in the 2019 IIHF World Championship, where he led the team to a gold medal with a 43-save performance in a 3-1 victory over Canada. Now, he gets another chance to shine as Finland looks to rebound against Sweden in the 4 Nations tournament.