Senators’ Nikolas Matinpalo replaces Rasmus Ristolainen on Finland’s 4 Nations team

Rasmus Ristolainen will not be able to represent Finland at the 4 Nations Face-Off tournament next week, as the Philadelphia Flyers’ defenseman is out with an injury. Instead, Ottawa Senators’ defender Nikolas Matinpalo will travel to Montreal to replace Ristolainen.

Matinpalo, 26, has played 18 games with the Senators this season, averaging 12 minutes a game and recording six penalty minutes. The native of Espoo, Finland, spent most of the season with Ottawa’s AHL affiliate, the Belleville Senators, scoring two goals and six assists for eight points in 24 games played.

Matinpalo made his North American professional debut last season, scoring four goals and 10 assists for 14 points in 67 regular-season games with Belleville. He also played four games with the NHL club in 2023-24.

Matinpalo spent his first five professional seasons in Finland’s SM-liiga with Ilves Tampere and Assat Pori. His best statistical season came in 2022-23, where in 51 games, he scored seven goals and nine assists for 16 points.

As for Ristolainen, he has two goals and 13 assists for 15 points in 54 games with the Flyers this season, averaging 20:31 of ice time. He’s been out of the lineup since Feb. 2 with an upper-body injury.

Finland will already be without Dallas Stars‘ defenseman Miro Heiskanen and Toronto Maple Leafs‘ blueliner Jani Hakanpaa, who are both out with injury. The Buffalo Sabres‘ Henri Jokiharju and the New York Rangers’ Urho Vaakanainen were named their replacements.

Finland revealed that Florida Panthers forward Aleksander Barkov will be the team captain at the upcoming 4 Nations Face-Off.

Mikko Rantanen and Sebastian Aho of the Carolina Hurricanes, along with Stars’ forward Mikael Granlund, have been named alternate captains.