BOSTON — With key players and any real motivation, Team USA slogged through its final round-robin game of the NHL 4 Nations Face-Off.
The Americans scored 35 seconds into the game and never again as they fell to Sweden, 2-1 on Monday at TD Garden.
Team USA had already clinched a spot in Thursday’s championship game (vs. Canada 8 p.m. TD Garden) and Sweden had been eliminated from contention so neither team had anything to play for. As a result, both teams made conservative lineup decisions.
With Matthew Tkachuk, Auston Matthews and Charlie McAvoy, all unavailable, the Americans dressed just 17 skaters (11 forwards, six defensemen) in the game. Jake Oettinger replaced Connor Hellebuyck in goal, while Jeremy Swayman dressed for the first time as his backup.
Sweden is having flu issues as Mika Zibanejad, Rickard Rakell and Linus Ullmark were all unavailable as well.
Things got worse for Team USA when Brady Tkachuk went to the dressing room after crashing into the post early in the period. He returned, first to the bench and then to the ice. But he stayed on the ice for just 14 seconds and didn’t play again.
Boxford native Chris Kreider, who was dressed for the first time for the Americans, made the most of his opportunity ripping a shot past first-time starter Samuel Ersson, 35 seconds into the game.
But after Gustav Nyquist tied the game with 6:21 left in the first, Jesper Bratt put Sweden ahead in the final minute of the period. His wrist shot through a screen fooled Oettinger to make it 2-1.
Samuel Ersson was strong for the Swedes with 31 saves.
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