Brady Tkachuk exits loss, adds to U.S. injuries

BOSTON -- Team USA downplayed concerns about a handful of key injuries ahead of its 4 Nations Face-Off championship game against Canada on Thursday.

The United States lost 2-1 to Sweden on Monday night, playing with a diminished lineup in a game that had no bearing on the tournament. Canada's victory over Finland in regulation earlier in the day clinched its spot in the final and a rematch against the Americans, who won a brutal battle with the Canadians in Montreal on Saturday.

The 4 Nations final is scheduled for Thursday night at TD Garden.

Team USA forwards Matthew Tkachuk and Auston Matthews as well as defenseman Charlie McAvoy sat out the game against Sweden out of injury precaution. The U.S. inserted New York Rangers forward Chris Kreider and Ottawa Senators defenseman Jake Sanderson into their lineup against Sweden, playing with 17 skaters (11 forwards, 6 defensemen). Kreider scored the lone goal for the Americans in the loss.

The thin lineup got even thinner when forward Brady Tkachuk was hurt in the first period and did not return due to a lower-body injury.

Tkachuk, who plays for the Ottawa Senators, lost an edge while driving to the Sweden net in the first period and slammed his side into the goal cage just 7:37 into the game. He went back to the U.S. bench in discomfort and eventually left for the trainers room.

He returned to the ice for a short 14-second shift later in the period but did not come back out with the team for the second period. USA Hockey announced that he would not return.

Sullivan said after the game that Brady Tkachuk was held out for "precautionary reasons" and had no immediate update on his injury. "We'll see how it responds," Sullivan added, "but I don't anticipate it being an issue."

While he sat out against Sweden, Matthew Tkachuk is expected to play against Canada. The Tkachuk brothers helped set the tone for that 3-1 victory against Canada in Montreal with two fights within the first 3 seconds. They play on either side of center Jack Eichel to form one of the more effective U.S. scoring lines. Sullivan said that McAvoy and Matthews were out on Monday with upper-body injuries, and that Matthews was the more "nicked up" of the two. He anticipated having more information on all four injured players on Tuesday. All that said, The Boston Globe, citing two sources, reported that McAvoy was admitted to Mass. General Hospital on Monday night for undisclosed reasons.

Amid all of the news, the U.S. players were confident that their teammates would be good to go against Canada.

"I mean, I'm not a doctor. But I'm sure a lot of those guys will be playing on Thursday," center Jack Hughes of the New Jersey Devils said. "Guys are hungry for this game and really excited."

Eichel was also optimistic. "No, we'll be good to go. We get two days here and we will take advantage of our time and get guys healthy and be ready to go on Thursday," he said.

he lineup absences meant some American players were tasked with higher ice time against Sweden, which won its first game of the tournament. Eichel (22:11), winger Jake Guentzel (23:36) and defenseman Zach Werenski (24:08) played their highest minutes of the tournament.

"Obviously, it's tough. We start the game with 11 forwards and then you lose another guy and a key player on our team. It's never easy," Eichel said. "You don't want to see anyone go out, but I give the guys credit. We had chances. We just weren't able to bury them."

Teams that have multiple injury absences at forward or on defense at the 4 Nations tournament are allowed to call up a player not currently on the roster as a replacement. Team Canada did this when they lost defenseman Shea Theodore for the tournament after an injury and defenseman Cale Makar couldn't play last Saturday, bringing on Dallas Stars defenseman Thomas Harley to face the U.S.

Sullivan wouldn't rule out using that protocol, but seemed optimistic the Americans wouldn't need to use an injury replacement player against Canada.

"We're hopeful we're going to get some of these guys back. I would anticipate we would. We'll have to wait and see how things play out here over the next day or so," he said. "Obviously, there will be contingency planning in the event that we need people."