Denmark Strategically Benches Andersen for USA Clash at the Olympics

MILAN – In a surprising move, Team Denmark coach Mikael Gath announced that Frederik Andersen will not be starting in net against Team USA at Santagiulia Arena on Saturday (3:10 p.m. ET; Peacock, USA, ICI Télé, CBC Gem, TSN). This decision, revealed after Friday’s practice, has sparked speculation about Denmark’s strategy for navigating the challenging Olympic schedule.

“I’m not going to start Andersen tomorrow,” Gath told NHL.com. The rationale behind this choice appears to be a calculated effort to preserve Andersen for potentially more winnable games, aiming to secure a favourable position heading into the single-elimination phase of the tournament.

A Tough Schedule for the Danes

Andersen faced 23 shots in Denmark’s 3-1 loss to Team Germany on Thursday. The upcoming match against the United States presents a significant challenge, compounded by a demanding schedule. The game is slated for 9:10 p.m. local time on Saturday, followed by a quick turnaround to face Team Latvia at 7:10 p.m. local time on Sunday back at Rho Arena.

“We have a bad schedule,” Gath explained. “We’re playing 9 o’clock against U.S., and then we play early against Latvia the day after, and we have three good goalies.”

The Goalie Debate: Sogaard or Dichow?

The question now turns to who will guard the net against the Americans. Coach Gath remained tight-lipped, leaving fans to ponder whether Mads Sogaard or Frederik Dichow will get the nod. Denmark boasts a strong goaltending depth, a crucial asset given the tournament’s intensity.

Only two Danish goaltenders have ever played in the NHL: Andersen and Sogaard. Andersen, a seasoned veteran, has a career record of 315-145-58 with a 2.59 goals-against average and a .914 save percentage across 539 games. However, he’s currently 7-10-5 with a 3.26 GAA and .871 save percentage in 22 games for the Carolina Hurricanes this season.

Sogaard, 25, has a record of 12-11-3 with a 3.60 GAA and .877 save percentage in 31 games. He’s 1-0-0 with a 4.65 GAA and .833 save percentage in two games for the Ottawa Senators this season, and 4-8-4 with a 3.30 GAA and .889 save percentage in 18 games for Belleville of the American Hockey League.

Dichow: A Rising Star

Frederik Dichow, selected by the Montreal Canadiens in the 2019 NHL Draft, represents the future of Danish goaltending. While he hasn’t yet played in North America, he’s currently performing well with HV71 of the Swedish Hockey League, posting a 3-6-0 record with a 2.40 GAA and .912 save percentage. He notably made 39 saves in Denmark’s stunning 2-1 upset victory over Team Canada at the 2025 IIHF World Championship, a game that featured NHL stars like Sidney Crosby and Nathan MacKinnon.

Olympic Hockey Tournament Format

The 12 teams are divided into three groups, with each team playing three preliminary round games. The group winners and the best second-place finisher receive a bye to the quarterfinals. The remaining teams will compete in a qualification round to determine the other quarterfinalists. You can find more information about the tournament format on the NHL website.

This strategic decision by Coach Gath highlights the importance of careful planning and resource management in the high-stakes environment of Olympic hockey. The USA vs Denmark matchup promises to be a thrilling contest, regardless of who takes the net for the Danes.