Sweden Defeats Depleted Team USA 2-1 in Final Round Robin Game

Samuel Ersson's goaltending helps Team Sweden earn their only regulation win of the tournament.

The leadup to Monday night's game between Team USA and Team Sweden was filled with a certain level of apathy. With Team Canada dominating over Finland that afternoon, the matchup for Thursday's Championship Game was locked up as a heated rematch between the two North American nations. Last night's tilt was mostly pointless on paper.

Team USA took note of this, with Matthew Tkachuk and Connor Hellebuyck opting to rest for the final game of the 4 Nations Tournament. U.S. captain Auston Matthews was also absent from the lineup as he delt with an upper-body injury, and Boston Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy was sidelined from the tournament and admitted to the hospital last night due to concerns over an injury he sustained in the opening games.

This opened the door for Rangers forward Chris Kreider to make his debut in the tournament in his hometown of Boston. Jake Sanderson of Ottawa Senators also took the ice in place of McAvoy, and Dallas Stars goaltender Jake Oettinger slotted in between the pipes.

The flu was also taking its toll on Team Sweden. Rangers forward Mika Zibanejad did not dress, as well as Linus Ullmark and Rickard Rakell. Victor Arvidsson and Mattias Ekholm, originally scratches at morning skate, joined the lineup in their stead.

Samuel Ersson, a 25-year-old goaltending hopeful for the Philadelphia Flyers, was given the difficult assignment of slotting in last minute against his head coach's team. But boy, did he deliver. Let's get into it.

1st Period

• Things seemed to be going to plan for Team USA off the bat. Chris Kreider scored 35 seconds in, off a rebound from defenseman Zach Werenski. Werenski's had a great season in Columbus and shown his hot hand at this tournament, with Dom Luszczyszyn of The Athletic ranking him as the top skater so far. His speed in getting to Sweden's net overwhelmed Ersson just enough to give Kreider the tip-in effortlessly.

• For next ten minutes, it appeared that Team USA would be easily bullying their way to victory. Brady Tkachuk and J.T. Miller laid thunderous hits on the Swedes that the crowd couldn't get enough of. At one point, Tkachuk leveled Leo Carlsson, and upon hearing the cheers, turned around and knocked Mattias Ekholm to the ground.

• A USA victory seemed less certain once Tkachuk slid down by the Swedish net around the 6 minute mark. He was slow to get up and played a much calmer game for the remainder of the first, exiting for a brief period of time. Out of precaution, the victim of "soft tampering" did not return for the second or third periods.
• Team Sweden started to show signs of life around this time, which the U.S. responded to with more physicality. Referees had to separate Joel Eriksson Ek and Vincent Trocheck after the Ranger took issue with his shot into Oettinger's stomach. Then Arvidsson found himself shoved around the boards by Noah Hanafin after getting his own shot off.
• Elias Lindholm took a penalty 7 minutes and 57 seconds in for deflecting the puck over the glass. The USA powerplay minus Auston Matthews and M. Tkachuk featured Kreider, B. Tkachuk, Jack Eichel, Jake Guentzel, Jack Hughes, and Zach Werenski. Adam Fox got some minutes on the second shift with J.T. Miller and Matt Boldy. Yet Sweden managed to keep them at bay, just in time for Team USA to nab a penalty of their own.
• Seconds after the powerplay ended, Boldy was called for interference, sending the Swedes on the man-advantage. The Swedish powerplay featured Erik Karlsson, Victor Hedman, Rasmus Dahlin, Elias Pettersson, William Nylander, Elias Lindholm, Lucas Raymond, Filip Forsberg, Adrian Kempe, and Jesper Bratt. The team went scoreless, but Nylander set up the best chance for Bratt (keep this in mind for later).
• Sweden tied the game at 13 minutes and 39 seconds, off an aggressive play from Nashville Predator Gustav Nyquist.

• The energy from Team Sweden seemed to shift after evening things up. After being pushed around by the USA's heavy body-checking for most of the period, they began shooting to puck more aggressively and shrugging off hard hits. It looked as if they were standing up to the hometown team and asserting that they would not take a beating.
• J.T. Miller started a scrum by the net in the dying minutes after Team USA failed to get a shot past Ersson to reclaim the lead. As referees calmed the waters, the U.S. players sort of checked out as if accepting that they'd get a goal back in the next 20.
• Sweden would not give in so easily, however, and took advantage of the USA's lax energy. With 55 seconds left in the period, William Nylander danced around Brock Faber and Miller to get the puck Jesper Bratt in the faceoff dot. A sharp angle shot and a screen by Eriksson Ek confused Oettinger, earning Sweden their second goal of the game, and ultimately the game-winner.

2nd and 3rd Periods

• With the game entirely decided by the first period, there is not much to report from the latter two frames. The main story here was Samuel Ersson, who finished with an incredible 32-save night.
• Just under 3 minutes into the second period, Ersson made a phenomenal glove save on Kyle Connor. Kreider and Connor took issue with this, jumping on the Swedish skaters closest to the net. Referees had to separate them.
• Noah Hanafin took a hooking penalty at 4 minutes into the second, giving Sweden their second powerplay of the game, but the USA penalty kill of Miller, Trocheck, Slavin, and Faber cut up the puck with ease.
• Filip Forsberg was called for slashing shortly after, but no goals were scored on the USA powerplay.
• Chris Kreider had a feisty determination this game, reminiscent of Round 2 Game 6. He carved out a spot in the crease and appeared ready to net any shot that came his way. At times, it truly seemed like he may score another two goals to win the game singlehandedly.
• By the third period, you could tell Team USA was getting frustrated by Ersson's unbelievable performance. Adam Fox took a crosschecking penalty against Lucas Raymond 1 minute and 11 seconds in, sending the USA back to the kill again.
• Fun sidenote: I was sitting around the Team USA families during this game, and Adam Fox's father did slap his knee and mutter something disappointed under his breath as he watched his son take a penalty at such a crucial time.
• Erik Karlsson did get called for a high-sticking penalty just shy of 8 minutes into the third, but Team USA once again went scoreless on the powerplay, even letting Sweden get a shorthanded rush. The home crowd was incensed at this.
• The rest of the period was a lot of almost moments - posts hit, shots wide, and Ersson truly showing off in front of John Tortorella. He denied both Jack Hughes and Brock Nelson's attempts at evening the score in the dying minutes.

• Team USA pulled Oettinger with a minute and 40 seconds to go. They managed to stave off an empty net goal from Team Sweden, but failed to get one back.

Takeaways

• Scoring the only U.S. goal in the game, Chris Kreider looked thrilled to be representing his country in his hometown. In his postgame, teammate J.T. Miller said "To get the chance to come in, produce and get on the scoreboard, I’m happy for him." Kreider also spoke with reporters about the legacy of his former Boston College teammate Johnny Gaudreau, and how playing for Team USA this year is shaped by honoring him.

• J.T. Miller continued to display the grit and tenacity he's become notorious for in this tournament, leading Team USA with 5 hits in the game.
• Vincent Trocheck and Adam Fox admittedly looked quiet, with neither producing any shots and Trocheck finishing with a -1 plus-minus rating.
• Sweden got their licks in with their final game of the tournament, asserting their skill and refusing to play second fiddle to the North American hosts. Now, all eyes turn to Thursday's Championship Game between Team USA and Team Canada. No doubt it will be one of the most anticipated NHL games in a long time.