![Feb 20, 2025; Boston, MA, USA; [Imagn Images direct customers only] Team Canada goaltender Jordan Binnington (50) during the 4 Nations Face-Off ice hockey championship game against the United States at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-Imagn Images](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,x_0,y_202,w_3495,h_1965/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/ImagnImages/mmsport/104/01kh97br6x5nmhtgrvt7.jpg "Feb 20, 2025; Boston, MA, USA; [Imagn Images direct customers only] Team Canada goaltender Jordan Binnington (50) during the 4 Nations Face-Off ice hockey championship game against the United States at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-Imagn Images")
After weeks of speculation and rumor, it has finally come down to the first game of the Olympic Games for Team Canada. Who was going to start in net? Is there going to be the same result as the Four Nations Face-off? Does Canada and St. Louis Blues General Manager Doug Armstrong still know what he is doing?
Well, all of that is about to be answered in a couple of minutes, as Team Canada announced that Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington will be starting in net for the first game of their Olympic run against Czechia. Armstrong is going with his guy and going all in on the shaky goaltender.
All eyes on No. 50
An entire country of Canada will be holding its breath when the puck drops for this game against Czechia. It will be a tough battle, but one that the "dream team" should be able to easily win. There is a vast difference in skill level between the two teams, and for Canada, this is merely a test to make sure that the right line combos are in place.
This is also a test for the goaltender's spot, as Binnington certainly didn't win this one over Thompson. Armstrong likely gave this one a ride as a trial run for No. 50, to see if that clutch gene is still activated when all the chips are on the table. How this Olympic tournament has gone thus far, with Sweden putting up a shaky performance in their 5-2 win over Italy, and the emergence of Dalibor Dvorsky for Slovakia, it is truly anyone's to win at this point.
Locking down Binnington as their goaltender, or figuring it out after this upcoming game against Czechia, will be imperative for the quote-on-quote "Favorites" to win the Gold Medal this year. Can we see some prime Binner magic in Italy, and maybe translate it to a solid final sprint for the Blues when the regular season resumes?