Significant absentees for Team USA at practice ahead of 4-nations final

It is no secret at this point that several players in both the Team Canada and Team USA dressing rooms are dealing with some manner of injury ahead of Thursday night’s 4 Nations Face-Off finale. On Wednesday morning, as Team USA jumped on the ice for practice, it was obvious that there was a significant absentee in the lineup.

While both Auston Matthews and Matthew Tkachuk were practicing with the rest of their teammates, Brady Tkachuk was no where to be found.

On Monday for the game against Sweden, Matthews was scratched and later reported it was due to what was dubbed “upper-body soreness.” As for the older Tkachuk, he also missed the contest with a lower-body injury.

As for Brady, he suffered what Team USA coach Mike Sullivan described as a lower-body injury. During the match, he lost an edge and his hip / thigh slammed into the goal post in a collision with Sweden’s goalie Sam Ersson.

On Wednesday, he was not on the ice for practice.

In the meantime, another important name was missing from Team USA when the players stepped on the ice as general manager Bill Guerin explained how the club is still working through the process of bringing blue liner Quinn Hughes to Boston ahead of the championship game.

Hughes was put on standby Tuesday after ruling out Charlie McAvoy, who is out with a serious ailment to his shoulder. Hughes is however not eligible to play unless there is an additional injury on defence. As of Tuesday night, it was unclear whether the Vancouver Canucks defenseman would even travel to Boston.

Set to draw in for the injured McAvoy, Jake Sanderson was on the ice, along with the other five USA defensemen.

UPDATE 

When asked about his status for tomorrow's championship game, Matthew Tkachuk revealed that he was ready to go. When questions turned to the status of his younger brother Brady, Matthew stated that he was "saving everything he has for tomorrow night.”

Auston Matthews also confirmed that he is good to go for the championship game on Thursday, adding that the issue he's dealt with in recent days has nothing to do with whatever ailment bothered him at the start of the season.