USA Faces Sweden in 4 Nations Face-Off Round-Robin Showdown

BOSTON — The United States men’s hockey team faces off against Sweden in the round-robin finale of the 4 Nations Face-Off tonight at TD Garden. The game starts at 9:17 PM EST, with Team USA looking to carry momentum after clinching a spot in the championship game against Canada on Thursday.

Team USA, having already secured their place in the finals with six points, is set for a challenging match against Sweden, who hope to steal a win and secure a favorable finish in the tournament standings. The North American rivals recently faced off on Saturday, concluding in a fiery matchup marked by three fights in the opening seconds.

As the puck drops, key player updates reveal that forward Brady Tkachuk will not return for the second period after suffering an injury. In contrast, Vincent Trocheck has made a comeback, giving Team USA a total of ten forwards for the continued battle. Last game against Canada, Team USA was also limited, beginning the game short-handed.

The first period of competition saw intense physicality, with 13 hits logged compared to nearly 30 in the USA-Canada game. The U.S. managed to score early within the first minute, displaying promise; however, Sweden quickly adapted to dominate the game thereafter.

Jesper Bratt‘s goal at 0:56 in the first period marked Sweden’s first lead, taking advantage of a neutral zone turnover by Trocheck, who is still nursing an injury. As the period unfolded, both teams fought for control, with Joel Eriksson Ek being a key contributor, tallying over six minutes of ice time and supporting two goals for Sweden, including the crucial scoring play that set up Bratt’s goal.

“It’s definitely more competitive than an All-Star Game, but that first period was notably free-flowing,” noted an observer after seeing both teams adjust to the game’s tempo. The U.S. initially struggled to contain Sweden’s offensive strategies, with a notable defensive lapse allowing Karlsson to throw a puck on net, leading to a helpful tip from Nyquist.

Amidst a vigorous back-and-forth clash, both squads seek to establish themselves as contenders leading into the final rounds of the tournament. USA has not faced any significant struggles in the tournament, continuously demonstrating skillful play, though the impact of missing key players looms large.

“This has the makings for another incredible game,” commented USA general manager Bill Guerin prior to the match, alluding to the tournament’s competitive environment and the excitement leading up to the final championship game against Canada. It is unclear if Sweden can replicate their success from prior matchups, yet the stakes remain high.

Tonight’s game can be viewed live on TNT, TruTV, and Max for U.S. audiences, while Sportsnet broadcasts it for Canadian viewers.