Forsling, and Sweden Take on Reinhart and Canada to Open 4 Nations Face-Off

MONTREAL — The 4 Nations Face-Off leads off on Wednesday night with Canada taking on Sweden at the Bell Centre. 

The two countries have three Florida Panthers between their respective rosters: Sam Reinhart, and Sam Bennett for the Canadians and Gustav Forsling for the Swedes.

Canada held a light optional morning skate ahead of Wednesday night’s contest, while Sweden had full attendance at their skate. 

Like he does for the Panthers, Reinhart will be playing on Canada’s top-six, only his center won’t be Aleksander Barkov, rather Connor McDavid. Reinhart will also be on a loaded Canadian top power play unit, alongside Sidney Crosby, Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar and McDavid. 

On Monday, Sam Bennett skated on a line with Tampa Bay Lightning forwards Anthony Cirelli and Brandon Hagel, however the Panthers forward appears to be the odd-man out tonight against the Swedes. He will be a healthy scratch, alongside Travis Sanheim, per Sportsnet’s Luke Fox. 

On the opposite side of the ice, Forsling, and his blueline partner, Sabres’ captain Rasmus Dahlin, have a big challenge ahead of themselves as they’ll try to stop a Canadian forward corp filled with All-Stars and future Hall of Famers. Forsling is no stranger to being matched up against the NHL’s bests, he was the Panthers’ No. 1 defenseman in the past two Stanley Cup Finals. 

“He skates very well, reads the game very well,” Dahlin said of Forsling. “It’s going to be a great mix [playing with him]. I’m a little bit more offensive, he’s a little more defense. I think we can complement each other very well.”

Sweden’s special teams will also feature Forsling. He was on a PK unit with Edmonton Oilers defenseman Mattias Ekholm at Wednesday’s morning’s morning skate. 

St. Louis Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington gets the start for Canada — in front of what will be nearly an entire Canadian home crowd — while Minnesota Wild goaltender Filip Gustavsson starts for Sweden. 

Both squads are made up of the best players from their countries, however the Canadians — boasting 15 Stanley Cup champions on its roster — enter the game a heavy favorite. 

“The players in that room, it’s special to be able to look around and see,” said Canadian forward Brad Marchand. “You’re witnessing hockey history with the guys that are there. It’s special to be a part of.”

Sweden is the designated home team, however the crowd should be almost entirely red as the Canadians take the ice in their country. Puck drop will be at 8 P.M. ET from the Bell Centre in Montreal. 

*EDITOR NOTE: The original story has been updated following the news of Sam Bennett being scratch.