Philadelphia Flyers netminder Samuel Ersson will replace Jacob Markstrom on Team Sweden’s roster at the 4 Nations Face-Off event after the Devils goalie was forced to withdraw due to injury.
The 25-year-old sports a 15-8-2 record this season with a .893 save percentage and a 2.77 goals-against average in his 3rd NHL campaign with Philadelphia. As previously reported, Markstrom will miss the next 4-6 weeks with a sprained MCL, meaning he will be unable to represent his home country at this year’s tournament.
Ersson will join Minnesota Wild goaltender Filip Gustavsson and Ottawa Senators goalie Linus Ullmark between the pipes for the event. That being said, it remains unclear how much (if any at all) action Ullmark will see as he remains sidelined with a back injury which has kept him out of NHL action since December 22nd.
The event will mark the fifth occasion in which Ersson has represented Sweden internationally throughout his young career. Previously, he suited up for the Swedes at the 2024 World Championships, posting a 3-1-0 record and capturing a bronze medal along the way.
The Four Nations Faceoff is a newly launched round-robin style tournament staged by the NHL and NHLPA. The event will feature national teams from Canada, the United States, Sweden, and Finland and takes place Feb. 12-20 in lieu of the annual NHL All-Star Game.
Sweden opens their tournament against Canada on Feb. 12 in Montreal before playing Finland on Feb. 15th, then going to Boston to face the U.S. on February 17th. The Swedes currently sport the 3rd longest odds to win the event at +440, trailing the US and Canada, but ahead of Finland at most sports books.
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