Four Nations Faceoff preview

The Four Nations Faceoff is set to start on Wednesday, Feb. 12. It opens in Montreal as Canada and Sweden will play in game one. Here’s a preview of the teams and our predictions.

United States

The United States is undoubtedly the deepest roster from the offense all the way back to the goalies.

They also have a lot of the best young talent such as Auston Matthews, the Tkachuk brothers, and Jack Eichel. Their firepower up front is one of the most dangerous parts of the team.

They also have a good mix of defensemen with Norris candidate, Zach Werenski, who may be the second-best two-way defenseman behind only Cale Makar in the tournament.

Adam Fox and Jacob Slavin add a more defensive mindset to the core which is loaded with defensemen who can score but don’t lose the ability to play defense when climbing up into the offensive zone.

Goaltending is where the United States is going to have the edge. They have the three best goalies in the tournament led by Vezina favorite Connor Hellebuyck. Hellebuyck is having a career year, and he is backed up by a severely underrated Jake Oettinger.

With goalies that can steal you wins, as well as a team loaded with players who can score from any position, the U.S. is set up pretty well for this tournament. - Tristan

Canada

Where Canada thrives is on the front lines. They may have the three best players in this tournament: Cale Makar, Nathan MacKinnon and Connor McDavid.

Their depth is most potent at the forward position with guys like Mitch Marner, Sam Reinhart, Sidney Crosby, Mark Stone and Brayden Point on the first three lines. This depth will benefit them the most when they get the personnel advantage, as they can create a fearsome power play.

The Canadian defense isn’t as strong. However, it features nice pieces like Makar, Josh Morrissey and Shea Theodore. They’ll be tested when they’re at a disadvantage trying to help out their goaltenders.

The Canadian goaltender group may be the weakest out of any group in the tournament. However, Adin Hill, Sam Montembeault and Jordan Binnington have had their moments this season. Going up against the best of the best, they’ll have to be at the top of their game. - Owen

Finland

The Fins come into the Four Nation Faceoff tournament with what is likely the worst roster out of the four teams. They have a strong top-six forward core but struggle after.

The top line two lines have so much potential and will be able to put the puck in the net. Mikko Rantanen is one of the best players in hockey and they also have his teammate Sebastian Aho who has been one of the best players in hockey. With these two and Patrik Laine they will have a great power play.

After that, this team really falls off. With the injury to their best defenseman Miro Heiskanen, this team's best defenseman is Esa Lindell. He is a good defender but he is not a number one defenseman.

The goaltending does save this team a little as they have one of the better goalies with Juuse Saros and Ukko-Pekka Lukkonen. If one of these two can get hot they could definitely have a better tournament than expected.

The bottom six and defense will be a problem for this team. Finland seems like a team that will do the worst in this tournament. - Andrew

Sweden

Sweden enters the Four Nations Faceoff with lots of question marks down the middle. Guys like Mika Zibanejad, Elias Pettersson and Elias Lindholm have all had their fair share of struggles this season.

Fortunately for the Swedes, several other guys have the potential to step up in big ways like William Nylander, Filip Forsberg and Adrian Kempe, who has been very underrated in L.A. with the Kings.

Jesper Bratt and Lucas Raymond are expected to contribute among the young players.

Sweden’s defense is a major strength for this squad and it may be the best in the tournament. The core might be on the older side of things, but guys like Victor Hedman and Mattias Ekholm have shown no signs of slowing down.

Having a probable top four consisting of Hedman, Dahlin, Karlsson and Forsling is a luxury.

The goaltending tandem of Filip Gustavsson and Linus Ullmark will have to step up in big ways with Jacob Markstrom being out due to injury. In a best on best tournament, look out for these netminders to show us their best hand. - Austin


Championship predictions

Owen Klein: United States

Austin Moran: Canada

Tristan Kunec: United States

Andrew Matz: Canada

Owen Klein is a third-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email ojk5092@psu.edu.

Austin Moran is a second-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email acm6506@psu.edu.

Tristan Kunec is a fourth-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email tqk5432@psu.edu.

Andrew Matz is a third-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email

atm5759@psu.edu.