4 Nations Face-Off: Team USA falls to Sweden; set to face Canada in title game

Team USA suffered a tough loss in their first game of the 4 Nations Face-Off tournament, falling 2-1 to Sweden at the TD Garden in Boston on Monday night. Despite the setback, the team will still have a chance to redeem themselves in the championship game on Thursday night against Canada, who they defeated 3-1 in their previous matchup.

The U.S. squad faced adversity in this game with key players missing from the lineup. Matthew Tkachuk was sidelined with a lower-body injury, while Auston Matthews was out due to illness. Additionally, Brady Tkachuk was injured early in the game, adding to the team’s challenges heading into the final.

However, the Americans got off to a strong start with Chris Kreider scoring the opening goal less than a minute into the first period. Kreider, who had not played in the tournament before this game, made an immediate impact by capitalizing on a deflection off a shot from Zach Werenski.

Sweden responded with goals from Jesper Bratt and Gustav Nyquist to take the lead heading into the second period. Despite multiple opportunities to tie the game, Team USA was unable to find the back of the net in the remaining periods.

As the final minutes ticked away, the U.S. pulled their goaltender for an extra attacker in a last-ditch effort to equalize, but Sweden’s defense held strong to secure their first win of the tournament.

With the loss, Team USA will now turn their focus to the championship game against Canada. The two teams are set to face off in a highly anticipated rematch after their heated showdown earlier in the tournament, which saw multiple fights break out on the ice.

Canada, coming off a 5-3 victory over Finland, will be looking to avenge their earlier loss to the U.S. and claim the title in what promises to be another intense battle between the North American rivals.

The stage is set for an exciting finale at the TD Garden in Boston, where hockey fans can expect a thrilling conclusion to the 4 Nations Face-Off tournament. Stay tuned for more updates on this exciting matchup and be sure to follow Fox News Digital for all the latest sports news and coverage.