Though Sweden couldn’t secure a spot in the championship, they managed to upset the United States with a 2-1 victory during the final round-robin match of the 4 Nations Face-Off tournament held on Monday.

Chris Kreider of the New York Rangers stepped in for Matthew Tkachuk and found the net for the Americans, while Samuel Ersson, the Philadelphia Flyers goaltender, showcased his skills with 31 saves on 32 shots, leading Sweden to their win.

After the initial games took place in Montreal, the location shifted to Boston for the concluding matches. The United States took an early lead just 35 seconds into the game when Zach Werenski surged towards the goal, allowing Kreider to capitalize on a rebound to score, giving the Americans a 1-0 advantage. Kreider, a Boston College alum, marked his presence with a goal in his first tournament appearance.

The United States appeared to dominate the first period until Sweden’s offense ignited.

Gustav Nyquist equalized for Sweden with a well-placed redirection, but the Swedes didn’t stop there. With under a minute remaining in the period, Maple Leafs’ William Nylander assisted Devils forward Jesper Bratt, whose powerful shot found the back of the net past a heavily-screened Jake Oettinger in the U.S. goal.

This proved to be the decisive goal, as neither team managed to score in the second and third periods.

As the second period began, U.S. forward Brady Tkachuk was sidelined for the remainder of the game due to an undisclosed injury sustained early on, forcing the Americans to continue with only 10 forwards.

Earlier on Monday, Canada secured a rematch against the United States in the championship by defeating Finland 5-3.

4 Nations Face-Off results and highlights: Tkachuk brothers shine for Team USA, Hellebuyck holds off Finland

Chris Bengel

Since the U.S. had already secured its championship berth, coach Mike Sullivan opted to rest starting goalie Connor Hellebuyck, allowing Jake Oettinger to take his place. Oettinger performed admirably, stopping 21 shots during the contest.

In their opening round-robin game, the United States handily defeated Finland 5-1. They followed that impressive win with another solid performance against Canada, coming away with a 3-1 victory on Saturday.

As we turn our focus to Thursday’s championship match, here are some key takeaways from Monday’s game.

Offensive Woes for the United States

The United States certainly experienced their share of misfortune offensively during the match. They hit the post five times throughout the game.

Assistant captain Jack Eichel was responsible for two of those close calls.

A particularly striking chance occurred just 23 seconds into the third period when Eichel maneuvered past Swedish defenseman Gustav Forsling. Despite getting a good shot off, the puck ricocheted off the post, preventing what could have been a crucial goal.

Eichel played aggressively, notching two shots on goal and assisting Kreider’s first-period score.

While the U.S. offense was struggling, credit must be given to Swedish goalie Samuel Ersson, who effectively blocked 31 shots. Unfortunately for the Americans, they just couldn’t find the back of the net against a tenacious Swedish defense.

Zach Werenski Ties Tournament Record

Zach Werenski of the Columbus Blue Jackets has long been recognized as one of the NHL’s elite defensemen, but he really shone on this prestigious stage.

By assisting on Kreider’s goal, Werenski tied with Canada’s Sidney Crosby for the tournament’s point lead with five assists across three matches.

He also matched Derian Hatcher for the second-most points by a defenseman in a single international NHL tournament, following Hatcher’s performance in the 1996 World Cup of Hockey.

This standout defenseman is continuing his impressive offensive run with 59 points (17 goals, 42 assists) this season, trailing only Colorado Avalanche star Cale Makar for the lead among all defensemen.

Injuries Impacting U.S. Team Ahead of Finals

As the United States prepares to face Canada in the championship on Thursday, Coach Mike Sullivan opted to rest several key players, including captain Auston Matthews, Matthew Tkachuk, defenseman Charlie McAvoy, and goalie Connor Hellebuyck during the match against Sweden.

Following the game, Sullivan confirmed that Matthews and McAvoy were nursing upper-body injuries and expressed hopes of having more information on their statuses by Tuesday.

Further complicating matters, Ottawa Senators’ Brady Tkachuk was forced to exit the game following an injury. After struggling around the net in the first period, he did not return. Sullivan later mentioned that Tkachuk’s injury was precautionary but shouldn’t impede his participation against Canada.

The United States will look to be in top shape for Thursday’s match, especially considering the intensely contested battle against Canada that resulted in a narrow 3-1 win. In that match, the Tkachuk brothers played pivotal roles, and Brady Tkachuk emerged as one of the most valuable players for the Americans during the tournament.