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.  

GAME PHOTOS

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. 

HIGHLIGHTS