Photo credit: Screenshot
Jon Cooper is not hiding anything and is sticking to his game plan to the letter for this second Olympic matchup.
We now have a big hint that the head coach could be making a change in goal to face Switzerland today.
It’s not a surprise, as Cooper was very clear in his press conference: he wanted to see two different goaltenders to start the tournament.
“He did confirm there would be two different guys in net for the first two games. Not a shock”
– Ryan Rishaug
Based on expectations and lineup logic, Logan Thompson will likely get the assignment to defend the Maple Leaf’s net.
It’s not a slight against Binnington; it’s a completely normal goalie management strategy for a tournament like this.
In such a compressed competition, you can’t burn out your number one goalie in the preliminary round by playing him twice in 24 hours.
Thompson deserves this audition on the biggest international stage and must prove he is a viable option for win-or-go-home games.
Can Logan Thompson provide the same stability as Jordan Binnington?
Following up a 5-0 performance puts pressure on the newcomer, who is about to play his first career Olympic game.
Switzerland is no pushover either, far from it.
They are structured, fast, and exhausting to play against.
Thompson will need to be sharp from the opening minutes, as the Swiss will want to test the newcomer early to plant seeds of doubt.
We can agree that Canada’s defense also has a major role to play in protecting its goaltender.
It’s an interesting character test for this second game.
Previously on Montreal Hockey Fanatics
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Jon Cooper hints at big lineup change for Game 2 vs Switzerland
Is it risky to change goalies immediately after a shutout?