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Game Day: Showdown With Sweden Today In Men's Worlds Prelims

By USA Hockey, 05/20/22, 7:45PM EDT

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Puck drop is set for 5:20 a.m. ET on NHL Network

TAMPERE, Finland – It’s a battle of two worlds powers in hockey as the U.S. Men’s National Team faces Sweden in preliminary round play of the 2022 IIHF Men’s World Championship. Opening faceoff is set for 12:20 p.m. (5:20 a.m. ET) and NHL Network will televise the game live. Game statistics can be found here.

The contest will mark the fifth in the world championship for both teams. The U.S. has won three of its opening four contests, while Sweden is unbeaten.

ROSTER

T.J. Tynan is expected to be in the lineup today after arriving in Finland Friday. The two-time AHL Player of the Year competed with the Ontario (Calif.) Reign in 2021-22 and put up 98 points in 62 regular-season games, including 84 assists, which tied for third all-time in a single season in AHL history. Defenseman Jon Merrill unfortunately got hurt on his first shift in the world championship in Thursday’s 3-0 win over Great Britain and returned home. Ryan Hartman and Matt Boldy are expected to arrive in time to join Team USA for its final two preliminary round games and the playoff round.

THE SERIES

The U.S. and Sweden have met 54 previous times in the IIHF Men’s World Championship and the Swedes have a 37-1-0-11-5 (W-OTW-OTL-L-T) advantage. The teams last met in 2018 with Sweden winning 6-0 in semifinal play on May 18. The last U.S. victory in the series came on May 8, 2017, in Cologne, Germany, by a 4-3 count in preliminary round play. Johnny Gaudreau scored twice while Clayton Keller and J.T. Compher each had a goal to propel the U.S. Jimmy Howard made 39 saves in goal to pick up the win.

FROM THE HEAD COACH

“They’re always a really formidable opponent and certainly this year is no different,” said David Quinn, head coach of the U.S. Men’s National Team. “We’re looking forward to the challenge and it will be important that we keep the game five-on-five.”

THE NETMINDER

Jeremy Swayman is the expected starter in goal for the second straight game after arriving here in Finland on Wednesday night. The Anchorage, Alaska, native, who played for the Boston Bruins in 2021-22, recorded a 17-save shutout in his world championship debut on Thursday in a 3-0 triumph over Great Britain. Cal Petersen had two shutouts for Team USA in last year’s world championship, including 15 saves in a 2-0 blanking of Germany on May 31 and 18 stops in a 3-0 win over Kazakhstan on May 25.

Following today’s game, the U.S. will have a day off before finishing preliminary round play with contests against Czechia and Norway on Monday (May 23) and Tuesday (May 24). Both games will faceoff at 4:20 p.m. (9:20 a.m. ET) and NHL Network will broadcast the action live.

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