Oettinger will serve as a backup to Connor Hellebuyck for the United States in its opening game of the 4 Nations Face-Off against Finland on Thursday night.

Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. U.S. goaltenders Connor Hellebuyck, centre, Jeremy Swayman, left, and Jake Oettinger on the ice during 4 ...

The 31-year-old netminder was rested for the last round-robin game while Jake Oettinger took the loss versus Sweden. Hellebuyck has allowed two goals on 47 shots in the tournament, and a similar performance would likely be enough for Team USA to come away with the win.

With the United States already locked into the tournament’s championship game thanks to Saturday’s regulation win over Canada, the Dallas Stars

As the squad's No. 3 goaltender behind Winnipeg's Connor Hellebuyck and Jake Oettinger of the Dallas Stars, he only saw duty as a backup once: in an essentially meaningless contest against Sweden after the Americans had already clinched a spot in the championship game.

Still, Sweden can earn a berth in the finals with a regulation win over the United States, and the contest between Canada and Finland goes into overtime or a shootout.

Connor Hellebuyck will start for Team USA when they begin play at the 4 Nations Face-Off against Finland on Thursday. The United States officially named Hellebuyck their No. 1 following Wednesday's practice -- a mammoth session that lasted well over an hour.

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Hellebuyck is one of the biggest reasons the U.S. is favored by some to win the 4 Nations Face-Off. In fact, of the four countries -- Canada, Finland, Sweden and the U.S. -- the United States seemingly has the best and deepest three-man goalie depth chart.

The depth is so strong with Connor Hellebuyck at the top and Jake Oettinger also in the tournament that Swayman might not even dress and an elite goaltender like Thatcher Demko didn’t make the cut.

The depth is so strong with Connor Hellebuyck at the top and Jake Oettinger also in the tournament that Swayman might not even dress and an elite goaltender like Thatcher Demko didn't make the cut.