'They've stepped up': Carey Price backs Canada's goaltending ahead of 4 Nations

Carey Price remembers the unending pressure.

The nation's eyes turn to the crease every time Canada laces up its skates and straps on the pads at an international hockey tournament. The intense goaltending spotlight — regardless of the level — can be all-encompassing.

Price was under that microscope at the 2007 world junior hockey championship and the 2014 Olympics before again taking centre stage at the 2016 World Cup.

"Those types of situations are why you play," he said. "To have that nervous energy before a game is something that I miss the most."

Canada doesn't possess close to the same Hall of Fame pedigree heading into the upcoming 4 Nations Face-Off tournament. Price, however, has faith the country's puck-stoppers can rise to the challenge.

Jordan Binnington of the St. Louis Blues, Adin Hill of the Vegas Golden Knights and Montreal's Sam Montembeault received the nod from the national program's brain trust when rosters were announced in early December.

On a Canadian team packed with offensive stars led by Connor McDavid up front and Cale Makar on defence, goaltending was always going to be a talking point.

And their stat lines, to be fair, don't exactly jump off the page.

Heading into Friday's action, nine Canadian-born goaltenders had better numbers, including Logan Thompson of the Washington Capitals, who's third in the NHL at .923. Darcy Kuemper (.919) of the Los Angeles Kings is fourth, while Mackenzie Blackwood (.918) of the Colorado Avalanche is sixth.

The United States, meanwhile, appears to have a significant advantage between the pipes with Winnipeg Jets standout Connor Hellebuyck and his impressive .925 save percentage.

The 4 Nations, however, is a short, high-stakes tournament comprised of three