Tkachuk leaves game in 1st period, USA down 2-1 to Sweden

UPDATE 2: Tkachuk has now left the game and USA Hockey has stated that he will not return to the game.

UPDATE: Brady Tkachuk has returned to the game, but now forward Vincent Trocheck has left the game with a suspected hand or wrist injury.

Team USA trails Sweden 2-1 through 20 mins in Boston this evening. The two teams are playing the final game of the 4 Nations Face-Off Round Robin, a game with little real consequence. USA has already clinched a spot in the tournament Final and will now face Canada for the championship on Thursday evening.

Sweden's chances at extending their tournament were dashed earlier today when Canada defeated Finland in regulation time.

While the Americans came out hot to start the game, they have since cooled considerably. Chris Kreider opened the score with a goal just 35 seconds in:

American forward Brady Tkachuk then left the game after losing an edge and colliding into the Swedish goal:

It was pretty at this point that the wheels began falling off for USA.

The Swedes managed to tie the game with a bit of a squeaker, and have now taken the lead off a beauty goal from Jesper Brett:

Tkachuk has since returned to the game, but USA has some work to do to change the narrative of this game.

Read below for our earlier reports on this game, published as events occurred.

Toto, I have a feeling we're not in Montreal anymore...

Fans in Boston's TD Garden went absolutely BALLISTIC for the singing of the Star Spangled Banner this evening, cheering loudly and drowning out any commentary with chants of "USA! USA! USA!".

Check it out:

I'll refrain from any personal political statements here, but suffice it to say that this isn't surprising given the treatment that the anthem has received north of the border in recent weeks.

Read below for our earlier report on team USA's lineup with the likes of Auston Matthews, Matthew Tkachuk, Charlie McAvoy and Connor Hellebuyck all sitting out tonight's game.

According to a report from NHL insider Larry Brooks, team USA is making some pretty significant changes for tonight's game against Sweden.

Out is starting goaltender Connor Hellebuyck in favor of back up Jake Oettinger and out is top defenseman Charlie McAvoy in favor of youngster Jake Sanderson.

Star forward Matthew Tkachuk is still out of the lineup and will be replaced by Chris Kreider, but the big news is that captain Auston Matthews is reportedly "battling something" and will also sit out the game. The team will play down a man with no one left to dress in Matthews' place!

Whoa!

Is there a cold or flu running through the dressing room?

Read below for our earlier report on Sweden's change in goal, as well.

According to a report from Swedish publisher Aftonbladet, Team Sweden will play goaltender Samuel Ersson against USA this evening, as starting goaltender Linus Ullmark is out with an illness.

Really though... can you blame Ullmark?

Even if he's not ill and he's 100% fit to play, I wouldn't blame him for handing the crease over to Ersson. This is a true 'mean nothing' game for Sweden with both USA and Canada clinching spots in the championship game on Thursday evening.

All the Sweden has left to play for is pride. Go out there, give things your best effort and then get on a plane back home. That's likely what Sweden is focusing on this evening. As for Ullmark? Well... maybe he can get an early flight? Filip Gustavsson is the team's third goaltender and he's expected to back up Ersson this evening.