Team Sweden @ Team USA 2025 NHL 4 Nations Face-off (2/17/25)

Before skaters could meet ice tonight, this afternoon's earlier game of Team Canada at Team Finland had already set up the 2025 NHL 4 Nations Face-Off Finals on Thursday at TD Garden. Team Canada won in regulation, beating the home team, Finland, 5-3. So, Thursday night at 8:00 p.m. is sure to be a thriller, Even with the final set in stone, tonight's game was still sure to be an exciting one as it would be the first time all tournament that Team USA played in the States. That said, Team USA would be without A. Mathews due to an upper-body injury, C. McAvoy with an upper-body injury, and M. Tkachuk with a lower-body injury. With any luck, both men will play on Thursday, but nothing official has been said.  

With the anthems sung, the game would get underway just after 8:00 p.m. EST and it wouldn't take long for Team USA to score. C. Kreider would score his first goal of the tournament just 00:35 into period one! Z. Werenski of the Columbus Blue Jackets would notch his team-leading fifth assist of the tournament while J. Eichel would add his fourth. The 1-0 lead for Team USA wouldn't last long though as former Columbus Blue Jacket, G. Nyquist, would add his first goal of the tournament at 13:39. E. Karlsson would add his second assist of the tournament on this goal with the primary while teammate V. Arvidsson would add his first of the tournament on the secondary. Visiting Team Sweden would then take their first lead of the night, extending their lead 2-1 with J. Bratt's first goal of the tournament. The only assist on this goal would become the second of the tournament for W. Nylander. This would be the final goal of period one and the score would remain a 2-1 Team Sweden lead. 

The biggest story to come from period two would be Team USA losing B. Tkachuk after he collided with one of the goals in period one. He would be ruled out early for the remainder fo the game. The good news this period was that Sweden didn't score, but Team USA couldn't eight, and so the score from period one of 2-1 Swededn would carry over into thee final regulation period. 

Period three would be full of good opportunities for both teams, Z. Werenski having several throughout the game, too, but no goals would come this period either. Team Sweden would hold on to win a close game, 2-1. 

Third Star: Z. Werenski with a 0-1-1 night. 

Second Star: S. Erason, the goaltender for Team Sweden, would finished with a .969 Save Percentage with 31 saves on Team USA's 32 shots on his net. 

First Star: J. Bratt with a 1-0-1 night. (The game-winning goal.)

With this game in the books, it all comes down to the 2025 NHL 4 Nations Face-Off final on Thursday night at TD Garden. The game will be a rivalry showdown between Team USA and Team Canada. The game will start at 8:00 p.m. EST.








     

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