Sweden Ready to Challenge USA Despite Elimination from Finals

BOSTON — Although officially eliminated from the championship game of the 4 Nations Face-Off, the Swedish hockey team remains determined to perform against the United States at TD Garden on Monday at 8 p.m. ET. Sweden’s fate was sealed earlier on Monday when Canada defeated Finland 5-3, thereby securing a spot in the final against the U.S. on Thursday.

Despite the setback, Sweden’s head coach Sam Hallam emphasized that his team still has ‘something to play for.’ In a statement on Monday, Hallam said, “We said this yesterday and we reminded the boys today that we have something to play for. We definitely have something to play for.”

As Sweden prepares for their final game, uncertainty looms over the lineup, particularly regarding the starting goalie. Although Hallam refrained from disclosing who would take the ice as the starter, indications suggest that Linus Ullmark may take the helm. Ullmark, traded to the Ottawa Senators from the Boston Bruins last June, had previously won the Vezina Trophy in 2023. This season, he holds a record of 12 wins, 9 losses, and 2 overtime losses with a .915 save percentage and a 2.49 goals-against average in 25 games.

Ullmark most recently played in a tough overtime loss against Finland on Saturday, where he allowed a goal in an odd-man rush just under two minutes into extra play. Gustavsson, the starting goalie for much of the tournament, was replaced due to illness, leaving question marks surrounding Sweden’s goaltending strategy.

Despite their elimination, Sweden’s captain expressed the team’s motivation. “We don’t know if this is the last time this team is playing together,” defenseman Erik Karlsson stated after the morning skate. “This is also for the future. The Olympics are coming up in 2026 and a World Cup in 2028.” He added, “We obviously put ourselves in this situation and we’re going to need a little bit of luck to have something to play for tonight. But our mindset doesn’t change going into this game tonight. It’s going to be great to play the U.S. in Boston.”

The atmosphere surrounding the tournament has been electric, fueled by the stakes of best-on-best international hockey. The U.S. secured their spot in the championship game after defeating Canada 3-1 over the weekend, ending Canada’s 17-game best-on-best winning streak. Following their games, the U.S. team will face Sweden, who remains hopeful for a spirited contest despite their earlier elimination.

In addition to team dynamics, the tournament has brought attention to individual player contributions and a sense of legacy, particularly as two players honored Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau, who passed away in August 2024. U.S. general manager Bill Guerin noted the significance of keeping their memory alive during the tournament.

The tournament is pivotal not only for current standings but for potential future team compositions as players eye opportunities for international competition ahead.