Sweden Vs USA: Swedes Hand Americans First Loss In 4 Nations Face-Off

BOSTON — It wasn’t the outcome Team USA wanted, but Sweden didn’t care. On Monday night, in the last game of the round-robin stage of the 4 Nations Face-Off tournament, Sweden vs USA turned into a gritty battle, with Sweden pulling off a 2-1 win against the United States, handing the Americans their first loss of the event. Despite the loss, the U.S. had already locked in a spot in the championship game, but this win was personal for Sweden — and they made sure to leave their mark.

A Game That Didn’t Matter, But Still Did

Technically, this match didn’t change anything in the standings. Team USA was already set to play Canada in the final, and Sweden’s hopes of advancing depended on a Canada loss earlier in the day, which didn’t happen. But when two hockey powerhouses face off, there’s always something at stake — and Sweden played like it.

Chris Kreider gave the U.S. an instant boost, scoring just 35 seconds into the game. But Sweden answered back when Gustav Nyquist evened the score about 12 minutes later. Then, with less than a minute to go in the first period, Jesper Bratt put Sweden ahead. That turned out to be the deciding goal, as neither team found the back of the net for the rest of the night.

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Source: Sweden hands United States first loss of 4 Nations Face-Off

Boston Fans Bring the Energy

The crowd at TD Garden wasn’t just there to watch; they came ready to make some noise. After Canadian fans had booed the U.S. national anthem in previous games, American supporters fired back in Boston. Some even dressed up in colonial-era outfits — powdered wigs and all — and belted out “The Star-Spangled Banner” before puck drop.

As the game wound down and Team USA scrambled for a tying goal, “U-S-A!” chants thundered through the arena. With the goalie pulled for an extra skater, the Americans had their chances, but Swedish netminder Samuel Ersson was a wall, stopping all 31 shots that came his way.

Sweden vs USA: Swedes Hand Americans First Loss in 4 Nations Face-Off

USA Short on Stars, and It Showed

It wasn’t just Sweden’s defense that gave the U.S. trouble. The Americans were missing some key pieces. Auston Matthews didn’t play, and to make matters worse, Brady Tkachuk left in the second period after a heavy collision with Ersson. Losing Tkachuk mid-game took away some of the team’s energy, and it showed in their offense.

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Adding to the frustration for Boston fans, Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy was a last-minute scratch, meaning they didn’t get to see one of their hometown favorites on the ice.

A U.S.-Canada Rematch with Everything on the Line

Despite the setback, the U.S. still has its eyes on the prize: a championship showdown with Canada. Their round-robin matchup was already a fierce battle, full of big hits, fights, and drama. It was also the most-watched non-Stanley Cup Final hockey game since 2019.

The question now is, can Team USA bounce back? Will Matthews be ready for the final? How bad is Tkachuk’s injury? And can they find a way to break through Canada’s defense?

Sweden may have ended their tournament run with a statement win, but for Team USA, the biggest challenge is still ahead. If they want to lift the trophy, they’ll need to regroup, refocus, and come out swinging against their biggest rival.