MONTREAL — Question marks still surround Canada's goaltending four games into its world junior hockey championship.

The latest Canadian goalie to don the pads, Eric Comrie, made 25 saves in Canada's 5-3 victory over the United States on Wednesday. The win gave Canada top spot in its group, with the Americans finishing second.

Canada's next game will be against Denmark in the quarter-finals on Friday in Toronto.

After alternating between Comrie and Zach Fucale in Canada's four preliminary games — all victories — Canadian coach Benoit Groulx is still not prepared to name his clear-cut No. 1 goaltender.

"We're not there yet to be honest," said Groulx. "This was just one game. Now we're going to do what we've done before. The only plan we had with our goalkeeper at the very beginning was to alternate them in the first two games. We didn't have a plan after that.

"We wanted to play it by ear. We're going to do the same going forward."

Groulx's decision to name a starter is by no means an easy one to make.

The Canadians came into Wednesday's contest having conceded just one goal in three games. Comrie made 17 saves to earn the shutout in Canada's 4-0 defeat of Germany. Fucale, meanwhile, stopped 12 shots for the shutout against Slovakia, and added another 27 saves in a 4-1 victory over Finland.

Who will start in the crease for Canada when the team takes on the Danes on Friday is still a mystery.

"We're just going to take it day-by-day and have fun," said Comrie. "Whoever is in, I'm confident, and I know Zach is very confident, and we're just going to go for a gold medal together."

Added alternate captain Sam Reinhart: "Whether it's him (Comrie) or Fucale in net, it's amazing the calming effect they have on the rest of the lineup, and how comfortable we are with the two of them."

Against the United States, Comrie gave up two of his three goals in the game's last three minutes. Comrie's perfect save percentage dropped to .933, and his goals-against-average rose to 1.50 after two starts.

The Winnipeg Jets prospect, however, was solid to begin the game. Comrie made back-to-back saves in the game's first 30 seconds — on American first-liners Tyler Motte and then Jack Eichel - to set the tone for the period. He made 13 saves after the first period.

"He was good right from the first," said Reinhart of 19-year-old Comrie. "He was able to calm us down and that's the best thing you can ask for from your goalie."

Comrie conceded his first goal of the tournament to Anthony DeAngelo at 13:12 of the second. With the Americans on the power play, winger Sonny Milano made a cross-crease pass to DeAngelo, who was faced with a wide-open net. Comrie couldn't make it from post-to-post quickly enough.

The DeAngelo goal looked like the only shot that would beat Comrie on the evening. With the Canadians ahead 3-1 late in the third period, all signs pointed to Comrie as being Canada's starting goaltender for the rest of this tournament.

But a giveaway by defencemen Joe Hicketts and Dillon Heatherington with less than three minutes remaining in the game gave Dylan Larkin an easy tap-in.

After an empty-netter by Reinhart put Canada up 4-2, Comrie whiffed on a weak shot from Larkin 13 seconds later, giving the Americans a lifeline.

"That's a goal I have to stop," said Comrie. "I have nothing else to say about that."

Comrie, who plays with the Tri-City Americans of the Western Hockey League, thanked defenceman Darnell Nurse for a blocked shot late in the game that could have been the equalizer. With the American net empty and an extra attacker on the ice, Nurse dropped to the ice and smothered an American slapshot.

"Our team has been unbelievable at that all tournament long," said Comrie. "Our team loves blocking shots. It really goes to show how much it helps at the end of the game when someone steps up like that and does that."

Despite Larkin's two goals late in the game, Groulx was pleased with Comrie's overall performance.

"I thought he was good," said Groulx. "He had a solid game. I'm very happy with him. I thought he was ready for this game. He's a competitor."

Notes: Canada has now won its last six New Year's Eve games versus the Americans. … The Canadians have outscored their opponents 21-4 through four preliminary games. … The United States will take on Russia in their quarter-final on Friday.