Jordan Binnington is set to lead Canada as the starting goalie in the upcoming Olympic opener. Despite being a strong contender for the gold medal, concerns about the goaltending performance have surfaced due to Binnington’s recent struggles with the St. Louis Blues.
Binnington’s Recent Performance
The 32-year-old Binnington has faced a challenging season. His record stands at 8 wins, 17 losses, and 6 overtime losses. He has a goals-against average (GAA) of 3.65 and a save percentage of .864 over 32 games. Binnington remains focused, stating he does not pay attention to external criticism.
Other Goaltending Options
Canada has additional choices for the goalie position. Logan Thompson has achieved a record of 19 wins, 16 losses, and 4 overtime losses, with a GAA of 2.45 and a save percentage of .912 in 39 games with the Washington Capitals. Darcy Kuemper has a record of 14 wins, 11 losses, and 9 overtime losses, alongside a GAA of 2.59 and a .900 save percentage in 36 games with the Los Angeles Kings.
Canada’s Lineup
As for the team’s lineup, Canada boasts a formidable roster featuring several top NHL players:
- First Line: Connor McDavid, Macklin Celebrini, Tom Wilson
- Second Line: Sidney Crosby, Mitch Marner, Mark Stone
- Third Line: Nathan MacKinnon with Brandon Hagel and Sam Reinhart
- Fourth Line: Bo Horvat, Nick Suzuki, Brad Marchand, with Sam Bennett rotating in
Seth Jarvis and Travis Sanheim are currently scratched from the roster.
Historical Success
Canada has a rich Olympic history, having secured gold medals in three of the previous tournaments featuring NHL players. These victories include the Olympic Games in Vancouver in 2010 and Sochi in 2014.
As the tournament approaches, all eyes will be on Binnington and Canada’s performance in pursuit of another gold medal.
