BOSTON – Chris Kreider (Boxford, Mass./New York Rangers) scored the lone goal for the U.S. Men’s National Team in a 2-1 loss to Sweden in the final round-robin contest of the 4 Nations Face-Off here tonight.
Team USA will face Canada in the 4 Nations Face-Off championship game Thursday (Feb. 20). The puck drops at TD Garden at 8:00 p.m. ET and the game will be televised on ESPN.
Kreider opened the scoring for the U.S. just 35 seconds into his first appearance of the tournament. He cashed in on a rebound opportunity following a shot from Zach Werenski (Grosse Pointe Woods, Mich./Columbus Blue Jackets).
Gustav Nyquist deflected a shot home at 13:39 to even the game, before Jesper Bratt gave Sweden a 2-1 advantage with 55 seconds remaining in the opening frame when he fired a turnaround wrister through a screen into the back of the net.
HIGHLIGHTS
The netminders kept both teams off the scoreboard in the second, as Team USA’s Jake Oettinger (Lakeville, Minn./Dallas Stars) and Sweden’s Samuel Ersson combined for 17 saves.
Jack Eichel (North Chelmsford, Mass./Vegas Golden Knights) nearly knotted the contest just 25 seconds into the third, as he skated past Sweden’s defense and made a move past Ersson, but struck the pipe with his shot.
Brock Nelson (Warroad, Mich./New York Islanders) had a breakaway chance with 6:30 remaining in the third, but his shot was stopped.
Oettinger made a trio of stellar saves on shots from Filip Forsberg and Viktor Arvidsson to keep the U.S. within striking distance with 3:50 left in regulation. He finished the contest with 21 saves.
The U.S. could not capitalize on numerous chances in the dying moments of the game with an extra skater.
NOTES: Zach Werenski was named the U.S. Player of the Game … Team USA outshot Sweden, 33-23 … The U.S. hit five posts in the contest … The U.S. and Sweden each went 0-for-3 on the power play.
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Source: usahockey.com