The United States is making a change in net ahead of a crucial preliminary round showdown in the men’s ice hockey competition at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics. Jeremy Swayman will start in the goalie position in the USA’s matchup against Denmark on Saturday.The change was announced by head coach Mike Sullivan ahead of the game at the Santagiulia Arena, which is part of the Winter Olympics schedule. The move comes after a strong opening victory in the competition and is a clear sign of the USA’s plans to utilize goalie depth in a crucial period in the competition.
Team USA relies on Jeremy Swayman’s depth and star power as Olympic chemistry develops
Jeremy Swayman takes the place of starting goalie Connor Hellebuyck, who made 17 saves in the Americans’ blowout win over Latvia earlier in the week. Jake Oettinger is the third goalie option, and the Americans have one of the deepest goalie pools in the tournament.Jeremy Swayman comes to the tournament in top form after a strong NHL regular season with the Boston Bruins, where he’s been a steadying force and a fierce competitor in the crease. His teammates have often praised his competitiveness, referring to it as a defining trait.Outside of the goalie situation, the Americans’ coaching staff is trying to find the right line combinations. Star center Auston Matthews continues to play a key role on a top line, and it’s been a good one for power-play goals, but they’re still trying to find their even-strength rhythm. Sullivan said it’s a constant “feel” to try to understand shifts in performance from one game to the next, or even from one period to the next.The roster decisions are still up in the air as the team heads into the final preliminary matchups. There are still several players, including some of the depth forwards and defensemen, who are still in competition for playing time. Sullivan has been adamant that all decisions are based on what will put them in the best position to win, even if it is a difficult decision.Team USA is working on fine-tuning their roster and creating competition as goalie rotation, combinations, and overall focus on being adaptable all seem to be geared toward one thing: making sure that they go into the medal round with momentum, with a roster that is clicking on all cylinders.