The United States men's hockey team suffered its first defeat in the 4 Nations Face-Off tournament, losing 2-1 to Sweden at Boston's TD Garden. Despite the setback, the Americans are still slated to face Canada in the championship game on Thursday, a rematch of their earlier 3-1 victory.

The US team was shorthanded, missing Matthew Tkachuk due to a lower-body injury and Auston Matthews sidelined by illness. Adding to the challenges, Brady Tkachuk sustained an early injury in the first period, raising concerns about his availability for the upcoming final.

Despite the missing players, the Americans drew first blood. New York Rangers forward Chris Kreider, making his tournament debut, capitalized on a rebound just seconds into the game, converting a shot initially taken by Zach Werenski and saved by Swedish goalie Samuel Ersson.

Sweden responded with two goals in the first period. Gustav Nyquist tied the game, and Jesper Bratt netted the go-ahead goal with less than a minute remaining. The second and third periods remained scoreless, though the US mounted a late offensive push with an extra attacker, but couldn't break through the Swedish defense.

This victory marked Sweden's first in the tournament, having previously lost in overtime to both Canada and Finland. For the US, the focus now shifts to the highly anticipated rematch against Canada. Their previous encounter was marked by three fights erupting in rapid succession, sparked by the Montreal crowd booing the American national anthem. The US ultimately won that game, setting the stage for a charged atmosphere in Boston.

Canada, coming off a 5-3 win against Finland, will be looking to avenge their earlier loss and claim the tournament title before the NHL season resumes.