BOSTON — A meaningless affair turned out to be a costly one for Team USA, with its best player through their first two contests of this 4 Nations Face-Off finishing Game 3 in the infirmary instead of on the ice.
That the Americans lost 2-1 to previously winless Sweden on Monday should be a back-pocket concern to losing Brady Tkachuk, the net-crashing king of this tournament who went full force into the post midway through the first period and only returned to the game for a 14-second shift before it was announced his night was over.
USA coach Mike Sullivan said afterwards Tkachuk’s departure due to a lower-body injury was precautionary and that all signs were pointing towards him playing in Thursday’s final against Canada, but there’s no denying he could be one of several Americans going into that game feeling less than 100 per cent.