Denmark to Sit Frederik Andersen Against U.S. in Olympic Preliminary Round
Denmark announced Friday that veteran netminder Frederik Andersen will not start Saturday's Group C preliminary game against the United States at 3: 10 p. m. ET in Milano. Coach Mikael Gath framed the move as a strategic decision tied to the compressed Olympic schedule and the team’s path through the preliminary round, while declining to name a replacement.
Coach frames move as strategic, not an indictment
"I'm not going to start Andersen tomorrow, " Gath said after practice Friday. The decision appears to be an attempt to manage minutes and preserve Denmark's top goaltender for a game the staff believes offers a better chance at earning the points needed to advance. Denmark coach Gath emphasized the unusual timing of back-to-back games at these Olympics and the need to allocate resources with the single-elimination portion in mind.
Starter choice remains under wraps
Gath declined to confirm whether he would turn to Mads Sogaard or Frederik Dichow for the start against the Americans. Both goaltenders bring different resumes and trade-offs: one has NHL experience this season, the other is performing well in Europe, and both offer Denmark options if the staff opts to split minutes or ride a hot hand.
Goaltending depth: profiles of the likely options
Andersen, 36, is Denmark's most experienced goalie and has a long NHL career. This season he has struggled to his usual standards in the NHL, but his pedigree and previous international performances make him the natural No. 1 when fully available. Mads Sogaard, 25, has recent North American pro exposure and is the backup who dressed against Germany earlier in the tournament. The 24-year-old Frederik Dichow, who has not played in North America, has posted solid numbers in Sweden and offers a modern, athletic presence between the pipes.
Schedule crunch pushes Denmark to manage workload
Denmark faces a tight turnaround: the national team plays the United States late on Saturday and then returns to action Sunday evening against Latvia. Gath was frank about the logistical challenge. "We have a bad schedule, " he said, pointing to the late kickoff and the quick trip back to the rink for another preliminary game. That compressed timetable helps explain why the staff would consider holding Andersen for a more winnable matchup or a game that better positions Denmark for the qualification round.
Group C context and what’s at stake
Group C remains tightly contested. Germany and the United States each hold regulation wins while Denmark and Latvia opened with regulation losses. Tournament structure rewards group winners and the best second-place team with byes into the quarterfinals; everyone else must navigate a qualification round. With only three preliminary games per team, coach decisions on lineups and goaltending will carry outsized consequences for seeding and the road to the knockout phase.
Matchup expectations and betting market signals
The United States is heavily favored in the matchup, and markets have reflected that expectation with lopsided moneylines and modest totals. That public sentiment underscores why Denmark may elect to use its goaltending depth strategically rather than deploying Andersen against a superior opponent at this stage of the tournament. For Denmark, the immediate goal is to manage risk, preserve key players when possible and position the squad to compete in the single-elimination rounds.
The choice Gath makes for Saturday will reveal how aggressively Denmark plans to chase an upset or conserve its top option for the games the coaches deem more critical to reaching the quarterfinals.
