Team USA lost 2-1 to Sweden in their final preliminary game Monday. By virtue of wins against Finland and Canada, the short-handed US squad entered the contest having already clinched a berth in the championship game. Canada's 5-3 regulation win over Finland, a game not close until the Finns scored three times late with the goalie pulled, clinched their spot in that contest, creating a highly-anticipated rematch.
B. Tkachuk-Eichel-Kreider
Guentzel-Miller-Hughes
Nelson-Larkin-Boldy
Trocheck-Connor
Werenski-Sanderson
Hanifin-Fox
Slavin-Faber
Oettinger
Swayman
A few thoughts:
1) The game: the US took an early 1-0 lead as Chris Kreider, on his first shift in the tourney, scored from in front following a great rush by Zach Werenski. The US continued their physical play, led by Brady Tkachuk, who was a human wrecking ball early. Already playing down a man due to injuries, the US lost Tkachuk for the game after he slid into the post in the first period. He came back for one shift later in that stanza and then sat the rest of the contest. Vincent Trocheck took a puck off the hand on the shift where Sweden scored to take the lead 2-1. But after going to the tunnel to the locker room after the play, he returned and played the second and third.
Chris Kreider (Boxford, Mass., approx. 30 miles from TD Garden), is the oldest player on roster. The two-time NCAA champion with the Boston College Eagles claimed his only international championship at the 2010 World Junior Championship (vs. CAN). #4Nations#NHLStats:… pic.twitter.com/tKZeSsxqdB
Sweden, missing Mika Zibanejad, Rickard Rakell and Filip Gustavsson due to flu, carried the play for stretches of the contest. They showed one way to put the US on their heels is to activate the defense and have them pinch to retain possession. That leaves them open to a counter attack, but yesterday, they penned the US deep, creating the first goal of the game by Gus Nyqvist. Sweden's game-winner came on a solid transition from defense to offense and snipe by Jesper Bratt. The US did hit five posts in the game, but their attack was somewhat stagnant, partially impacted by the player absences.
2) Injuries: the US entered the tourney without Quinn Hughes. Of the several who didn't play yesterday due to injury, Charlie McAvoy's ailment and status for Thursday may be the most concerning. Jim McBride of the Boston Globe reported late last night that McAvoy was admitted but did not specify why. Pierre LeBrun added this am that McAvoy has an infection stemming from the ailment and his status for Thursday is unclear. If he can't go, the US loses a major component of their blueline. (update: the Bruins announced this am that McAvoy will not play Thursday)
Confirming what @frank_seravalli is saying here, that McAvoy has an infection and that’s what he’s being treated for. Not clear at this point what his status is for Thursday night but I believe he’s the biggest concern for Team USA among their banged-up players. https://t.co/p2PIrYwLAy
Matthew Tkachuk, who sat out the third period against Canada with a lower-boy ailment, missed the contest against Sweden. Joining him on the sidelines was Auston Matthews due to upper body soreness. Both may have been sidelined solely for precautionary reasons, though Tkachuk was likely questionable for the contest due to the injury. During the game versus Sweden, as noted above, Brady Tkachuk was injured and sat the last two periods. It likely was precautionary, but the US is banged up heading into Thursday's game. The extra day of rest with the contest on Thursday not Wednesday may prove very beneficial.
3) Rangers: Kreider scored and was very effective. Trocheck didn't really stand out much at all. Fox had an okay game, though he still has not been noticeable at all in this tournament in a good way.
We get three days of hype before the rematch. Much of the focus will be on the heath of the players noted above. For the US, the win Saturday was great, but as I noted, they need to complete the deal and notch a victory Thursday so that isn't merely a footnote.
New York Rangers Blogger • 
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