Goaltender Jacob Markstrom is set to take the net for Team Sweden on Tuesday in their crucial Olympic hockey qualification match against Latvia. Coach Sam Hallam indicated on Monday that he had made his decision regarding the starting goalie, but he chose to keep it under wraps until closer to the game.
Both Markstrom and fellow goalkeeper Filip Gustavsson have been utilized during the preliminary rounds of the tournament. Jesper Wallstedt, a teammate of Gustavsson with the Minnesota Wild, will serve as Markstrom’s backup for this outing. In addition to Gustavsson, forward Jesper Bratt and defenseman Rasmus Andersson will also be absent from the lineup.
If Sweden secures a victory on Tuesday, they will advance to face the United States in the quarter-finals the following day, which poses a strategic decision for Hallam regarding whether to use the same goaltender in back-to-back matches.
Markstrom was notably the first player off the ice during Sweden’s morning skate, hinting at his starting role against Latvia. Gustavsson and Wallstedt were observed engaged in extra practice, further solidifying speculation around Markstrom’s start.
Gustavsson had previously started in the first two games of the tournament but faced challenges, conceding two goals on the first four shots in their win against Italy and allowing two of six shots to slip through in a 4-1 loss to Finland. His performance resulted in five goals allowed on 45 shots over those early outings, culminating in a save percentage of .888.
Markstrom was called upon for Sweden’s match against Slovakia, where he demonstrated his skill by stopping 29 of 32 shots in a 5-3 victory, contributing to the team’s confidence moving forward. Hallam praised Markstrom’s performance, noting his ability to control the puck and initiate breakouts, which are crucial elements for a successful goaltender.
Gustavsson has had a solid season with the Minnesota Wild, posting a goals-against average of 2.61 and a save percentage of .907 over 36 games. In contrast, Markstrom’s current performance with the New Jersey Devils shows a GAA of 3.20 and a save percentage of .882 over 30 games.
As Team Sweden prepares for what could be a decisive match, the coaching staff and fans alike are hopeful that Markstrom’s experience and recent performance will lead the team to victory and pave the way for further successes in the tournament.