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Team Sweden has yet to win a game in this tournament, and the US looks intimidating, having started their back-to-back win streak to sit at the top of the 4 Nations standings. Anything can happen in hockey, but team Sweden will need to do some convincing on the ice before they can take down the mighty USA with some of the top all-star players from the NHL.
Don’t miss out on the last round of group play for the 4 Nations Face-Off tournament as Sweden takes on USA at 8 PM ET tonight, and only one spot is left to reach the playoffs with all teams except the US tied at 2 points on the ladder.
Sweden sits tied for 2nd along with Canada and Finland on the 4 Nations Face-Off standings, although they have yet to win a game. Both Canada and Finland’s 2 points come from a single OT win each, whereas Sweden’s 2 points come from earning 1 in each OT loss, allowing them to still have a chance of progressing in this tournament.
Their first game against the previous 2022 Winter Olympics gold medalist of Finland was close, but Sweden would ultimately fall to a 4-3 scoreline. Sweden’s Mika Zibanejad would lift hopes with the opening goal in the 1st period, only for the team to concede two unanswered in the 1st to lose the lead. However, Sweden would pull back with back-to-back goals in the 2nd from Rasmus Dahlin and then Erik Karisson, letting up an equalizer just before the end of the period. An OT goal from Finland’s Aleksander Barkov would seal the win for Finland 1:49 in.
Up next, Canada would be a tough opponent versus the Swedes, taking the early lead with Nathan MacKinnon and Brad Marchand scoring in the 1st. Sweden’s Jonas Brodin would answer with a midway-period goal before Canada’s Mark Stone extended the lead once again.
It looked up for the Swedes throughout the final period though, with Adrian Kemp and Joel Eriksson stealing back 2 goals to send the game to OT, which was played for 6:06 before Canada’s Mitch Marner would take the victory in a 4-3 scoreline. Sweden has showcased their ability to come back late in the game, and although it hasn’t been enough so far in this tournament, there’s a chance that a large early lead could be a catalyst for their first win.
The United States started the 4 Nations Face-Off tourney with an absolute bang, eviscerating Finland in a 6-1 scoreline. It’s been proven over the last two games that the US can dominate with their offensive line, but they do a sufficient job keeping the puck out of their net. Surprisingly, goaltender Conor Hellebuyck conceded to Finland’s Henri Jokiharju just before the USA would go on a rampage, scoring six unanswered to take the 6-1 victory. USA’s forward line of brothers, Brady and Matthew Tkachuk, scored a combined four goals, with Jake Guentzel and Matt Boldy netting the other two for a crushing win in the first round of the 4 Nations Face-Off.
In their second high-tension game versus rivals of Canada at Montreal’s Bell Centre Stadium, the US would show no fear with a three-goal comeback after conceding to a one-goal deficit in the first period to Canada’s Conor McDavid. Jake Guentzel of the US would equalize 5 minutes later, only for Dylan Larkin to score in the 2nd to put them up 2-1. Canada would pull their goalie for the extra man in the 3rd period, which Jake Guentzel would capitalize once again on the empty net to seal the game at 3-1. With 9 goals to their name in two games against two tough competitors, the US undoubtedly looks like the team to beat.
It’s difficult to see any outcome other than Team USA winning by a comfortable margin tonight. While all four teams in the 4 Nations Face-Off are formidable, the US not only has some of the NHL’s top performers on their team, but they’ve been executing their gameplay immaculately so far.
Sweden is holding on by a thread, as the only factor keeping them alive is that they lost twice in OT rather than in regulation, although they’ve shown their relentless fighting spirit even when they are down by a 2-goal deficit. From this analysis, we believe the US will come out relatively unscathed in this one as they’ll have their eyes set on the 4 Nations Face-Off trophy, and I expect Guentzel to light the lamp again tonight.
Liam has been a major sports fan and soccer player for over a decade, with a particular focus on major top-level soccer leagues, including the EPL, La Liga, Serie A, Bundesliga and MLS. He has written numerous promotional articles for various top sportsbooks and continues to publish historical and factual sports articles covering the NFL, MLS, NHL, MLB, EPL and more.