Final: Sweden 2, USA 1 - USA struggles to score in 2nd and 3rd period in loss to Sweden

Team USA loses their first game of the 4 Nations Face-Off falling to Team Sweden 2-1. 

With the Tkachuk brothers, Auston Matthews, and Charlie McAvoy injured, USA had a hard time struggling to score.

All three goals in this game happened in the first period. 35 seconds into the game, USA got on the board first with Chris Kreider scoring his first of the tournament.

It seemed like USA picked up where they left off after Kreider's goal, but Sweden responded with Gustav Nyquist scoring on a deflection.

With a minute left in the period, Jesper Bratt gave Sweden the lead scoring what ended up being the final goal of the game.

USA had multiple chances the remaining 40 minutes of this game, but Sweden consistently clogged up the middle of the net making it hard for USA to get any critical scoring chance. Along with that, USA went 0/3 on the power play.

In the final two minutes of the game, USA pulled the goalie for a last chance attempt, but Sweden maintained their strong defense en route to their only win in the tournament.

While this game didn't affect anything for USA this tournament, it would've been nice to see them come out with the win. Losing Brady Tkachuk in the first period along with the other scratches that were made hurt their chances, but it's better to rest these starters rather than risk them of getting injured. 

The 4 Nations championship game will take place on Thursday at 8 p.m. with USA and Canada facing off against each other in a rematch. Considering how the first game went between both fans, this will be an exciting way to end off a successful best-on-best hockey tournament.

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WHO: Team USA (2-0-0-0) vs Team Sweden (0-0-0-2)
WHEN: 8 p.m.
WHERE: TD Garden, Boston
TV: NESN
RADIO: 98.5-FM The Sports Hub

LIVE BOX SCORE

ROSTERS

PROJECTED LINES

USA

Guentzel - Matthews - Hughes

Miller - Eichel - Tkachuk

Nelson - Larkin - Boldy

Kreider - Trocheck - Connor

Slavin - Faber

Werenski - Sanderson

Hanifin - Fox

Oettinger

Hellebuyck

Sweden

Bratt - Zibanejad - Nylander

Kempe - Eriksson Ek - Raymond

Forsberg - Pettersson - Carlsson

Nyquist - Lindholm - Rakell

Hedman - Brodin

Forsling - Karlsson 

Dahlin - Andersson

Ullmark

Gustavsson

PREGAME NOTES

Team USA and Team Sweden will play the final game of the 4 Nations Face-Off round robin series in TD Garden. 

This game won't matter for either team, as USA and Canada are set to face each other on the championship game on Thursday.

Charlie McAvoy and Matthew Tkachuk won't play in today's game. Jake Sanderson and Chris Kreider are now in the lineup.