Shorthanded Hockey: Sweden Beats Team USA at 4 Nations

With Team USA already claiming a spot in the 4 Nations Face-Off title game, Monday’s matchup with Sweden had nothing on the line for either team.

Both teams rolled into the game shorthanded: USA was without Matthew Tkachuk and Auston Matthews due to what sound like precautionary reasons; Sweden has been battling a flu bug and came in with 11 forwards.

With Matthew Tkachuk doing some broadcasting work in the TNT booth during the game, his brother Brady left the game in the first period with some sort of injury and did not return.

In the end, all the goals were scored in the first period and it was Sweden pulling out a 2-1 win.

Team USA plays Canada in what should be a hotly-contested rematch of Saturday’s 3-1 win by the Americans on Thursday.

Sweden and Finland were eliminated from the tournament.

Chris Kreider, a Boston kid who plays for the Rangers, got into his first game for USA and made it 1-0 just 35 seconds into the game.

The Americans did not score again,

Gustav Nyquist tied the score at 1 with 6:21 left in the first, then Jesper Bratt made it 2-1 with 56 seconds remaining before the break.

And that was it for the scoring.

Philadelphia Flyers goalie Sam Ersson made 31 straight saves for the win.

FHN’S 3 STARS OF THE GAME

• 1. Jesper Bratt, Sweden
• 2. Gustav Nyquist, Sweden
• 3. Sam Ersson, Sweden

4 NATIONS FACE-OFF SCHEDULE/RESULTS

At Montreal

• Wednesday: Canada 4, Sweden 3 (OT)
• Thursday: United States 6, Finland 1
• Saturday: Finland 4, Sweden 3 OT; United States 3, Canada 1

At Boston Garden

• Today: Canada 5, Finland 3; Sweden 2, United States 1
• Thursday’s Championship: Canada vs. USA, 8 p.m. (ESPN, ESPN+)

Standings

• 1. United States 6 points
• 2. Canada 5
• 3. Sweden 5 (eliminated)
• 4. Finland 2 (eliminated)