Team USA and Team Sweden Both Make Drastic Changes to their Lineups Ahead of Clash
There are some significant lineup changes in the works for both Team Sweden and Team USA tonight in the final preliminary tournament game.
The Americans are making a pair of changes for tonight's contest. Jake Oettinger will get the start in goal in place of Connor Hellebuyck, a healthy scratch, with Jeremy Swayman backing up.
Chris Kreider is inserted up front to take the place of Matthew Tkachuk, who is out with a lower-body injury. On the back end, Jake Sanderson is inserted to take the place of Charlie McAvoy.
Sweden also has two lineup changes for their matchup tonight with the United States. Forward Viktor Arvidsson and defenseman Mattias Ekholm are out, and in to take their places are Leo Carlsson and Rasmus Andersson.
Ekholm performed well against Canada but had a tough game in Sweden's 4-3 loss to Finland when he was on the ice for Mikko Rantanen's and Aleksander Barkov's game-winning goals and blown defensive assignments.
Arvidsson has received limited ice time, playing just 19 minutes of five-on-five ice time through two games. His ice time decreased between the Canada and Finland games and saw Sweden shuffle some of its forward lines.
At the rear, the initial pair will be Viktor Hedman and Jonas Brodin, while Gustav Forsling will take Ekholm's position to play with Erik Karlsson.
The third pair will be Rasmus Dahlin and Andersson. Carlsson will be added on the third line to play with Elias Pettersson and Filip Forsberg upfront.
Tonight's USA-Sweden game is meaningless in the standings
Both squads are looking for the correct combination as they battle for a victory, though the contest no longer has any meaning.
The USA is already into the Championship game, and Sweden was just eliminated as Canada defeated Finland 5-3 earlier in the day.
![Feb 17, 2025; Boston, MA, USA; [Imagn Images direct customers only] Team Canada forward Connor McDavid (97) skates with the puck during the second period in a 4 Nations Face-Off ice hockey game against Team Finland at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-Imagn](https://i.marqueur.com/habsetlnh/medium/530316.webp "Feb 17, 2025; Boston, MA, USA; [Imagn Images direct customers only] Team Canada forward Connor McDavid (97) skates with the puck during the second period in a 4 Nations Face-Off ice hockey game against Team Finland at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-Imagn")
![Feb 15, 2025; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; [Imagn Images direct customers only] Team United States forward Matthew Tkachuk (19) and Team Canada forward brandon Hagel (38) fight in the first period during a 4 Nations Face-Off ice hockey game at the Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: Eric Bolte-Imagn Images](https://i.marqueur.com/habsetlnh/medium/530162.webp "Feb 15, 2025; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; [Imagn Images direct customers only] Team United States forward Matthew Tkachuk (19) and Team Canada forward brandon Hagel (38) fight in the first period during a 4 Nations Face-Off ice hockey game at the Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: Eric Bolte-Imagn Images")
