Sweden Edges Out Shorthanded U.S., But Falls Short of 4 Nations Final
In a dramatic conclusion to the 4 Nations Face-Off round-robin stage, Sweden handed the United States their first loss of the tournament with a 2-1 victory. But despite their hard-fought win, the Swedes fell short of advancing to the championship game. Meanwhile, the U.S., already locked into the final, will now prepare for a much-anticipated rematch against Canada.
The game started with an explosive opening as Chris Kreider put the U.S. on the board just 35 seconds in, giving the home crowd in Boston plenty to cheer for. However, Sweden quickly responded, with Gustav Nyquist leveling the score a dozen minutes later. The momentum swung further in Sweden’s favor when Jesper Bratt netted the go-ahead goal just before the first period ended.
From that point on, Sweden’s defense and goaltending took over. Netminder Samuel Ersson was outstanding between the pipes, making 31 saves and shutting out the Americans for nearly 60 minutes. Even as the U.S. pushed hard in the final moments, with chants of "U-S-A!" ringing through TD Garden and an extra skater on the ice, Ersson held firm to secure the victory.
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But despite Sweden’s strong finish, it wasn't enough to earn a spot in the final. Canada had already secured their place earlier in the day with a 5-3 win over Finland, setting up a championship clash with the U.S. This means that while Sweden exits the tournament on a high note, their campaign comes to an end.
The Americans played this game shorthanded, missing key players like Auston Matthews, and later losing Brady Tkachuk in the second period after a collision with Ersson. Bruins fans were also disappointed to see Charlie McAvoy scratched from the lineup. Despite these setbacks, U.S. coach Mike Sullivan remained optimistic, looking ahead to the final:
“The first game was such a great hockey game, and I think it’s great for hockey that these two teams get to meet again,” Sullivan said, referring to the earlier U.S.-Canada matchup, which was packed with intensity.
For Sweden, it was a bittersweet victory. They showcased resilience, but their earlier overtime losses to Canada and Finland ultimately cost them a spot in the final. Rasmus Andersson, making his national team debut for Sweden, made a solid impression, logging 13:17 of ice time and leading his team with five blocked shots.
As the tournament now heads toward its highly anticipated conclusion, all eyes will be on the U.S. and Canada. The North American rivals are set to face off once again, this time with a championship on the line. One thing is for sure: after their last heated battle, this rematch promises to be an absolute thriller.
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