U.S. Drops Men’s Worlds Opener to Sweden, 5-2
Team USA to face Germany Tomorrow
OSTRAVA, Czechia – The U.S. Men’s National Team fell to Sweden, 5-2, here tonight in its opening preliminary round game of the 2024 IIHF Men’s World Championship at Ostrava Arena.
“I thought it was a good hockey game,” said John Hynes, head coach of the 2024 U.S. Men’s National Team. “We need to tighten some things up. We’ll work to continue to get better and be ready to go against a very good German team tomorrow.”
Sweden took a 1-0 lead on a delayed penalty call at 8:20 in the first period when Joel Eriksson Ek lined up a wrist shot from the slot and beat Alex Lyon (Baudette, Minn./ Detroit Red Wings) stick side.
Lucas Raymond put Sweden ahead 2-0 after he picked the top corner with a wrister at the 3:45 mark of the second frame.
Zach Werenski (Grosse Pointe, Mich./Columbus Blue Jackets) got Team USA on the board at 12:32 in the second period.
Matt Boldy (Millis, Mass./Minnesota Wild) took off with the puck into Sweden’s zone and fed a pass to Seth Jones (Frisco, Texas/Chicago Blackhawks) who found Werenski at the top of the circle where he wired a shot into the top corner of the net.
Sweden restored its two-goal lead just over four minutes later when Marcus Johansson found the back of the net.
Brock Nelson (Warroad, Minn./ New York Islanders) added a goal for the U.S. in the third period at 3:43 after he popped a shot from the slot, set up by Johnny Gaudreau (Salem, N.J./ Columbus Blue Jackets) behind the net. Alex Vlasic (Wilmette, Ill./ Chicago Blackhawks) picked up a secondary assist on the play.
The U.S. had two power plays in the final 12:00 of the contest, including one with 2:47 to play, but despite some good chances, could not convert. Sweden’s Victor Hedman and Eriksson Ek added empty-net goals to account for the 5-2 final.
Lyon, who made his first appearance in the IIHF Men’s World Championship, made 33 saves in net.
The U.S. faces Germany in its second preliminary round matchup tomorrow (May 11) at 8:20 p.m. local/2:20 p.m. EST. All Team USA games will be broadcast live on NHL Network.
NOTES: Zach Werenski was named Team USA’s Player of the Game… The U.S. was 0-3 on the power play, while Sweden was 0-0… Sweden outshot the U.S. 38-30 … Team USA won 70 percent of its faceoffs in the contest.