Team USA and Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews has been ruled out of Monday&#8217;s game against Team Sweden.
<a href="https://x.com/RussoHockey/status/1891649038769885461">The Athletic&#8217;s Michael Russo</a> reported that Matthews is dealing with upper-body soreness, and is expected to play in Thursday&#8217;s final against Team Canada. It&#8217;s not believed to be a significant issue, via <a href="https://x.com/reporterchris/status/1891649515855253963">The Athletic&#8217;s Chris Johnston</a>. It&#8217;s unclear when Matthews started experience soreness through the 4 Nations Face-Off.
Matthews has missed 15 games for the Maple Leafs due to an upper-body injury, but he&#8217;s been in great form since returning to the lineup on January 4. The 27-year-old has recorded 20 goals and 45 points in 40 games for the Maple Leafs.
It appears at the time of this filing that it&#8217;s a precautionary measure. Matthews and Team USA clinched its berth to the 4 Nations Face-Off final with a <a href="https://theleafsnation.com/news/6-takeaways-canada-usa-thriller-mayhem-montreal-guentzel-larkin-elevate">3-1 victory over Team Canada on Saturday</a>. Matthews has been primarily paired with Jake Guentzel and Jack Hughes at 5-on-5.
&#8220;Definitely wanted to come out and send a message right away,&#8221; <a href="https://theleafsnation.com/news/auston-matthews-shakes-off-boos-send-message-usa-win-canada">Matthews said</a>, of the electric start to USA&#8217;s victory over Canada, which started with three fights in nine seconds. &#8220;And those three guys stepping up like that, I mean, those guys are as hard as it gets when it comes to just playing the game hard and with an edge.&#8221;
Jake Sanderson will also enter Team USA&#8217;s lineup in place of Charlie McAvoy. Matthew Tkachuk was previously ruled out, with the expectation that he will suit up for Thursday&#8217;s final against Canada.
Team Sweden is also battling the flu, and Linus Ullmark, Rickard Rakell and Mika Zibanejad have all been ruled out of Monday&#8217;s game. Samuel Ersson is starting for Team Sweden as a result. Sweden has been eliminated from the tournament, after two overtime losses in round robin play.
There&#8217;s nothing to play for but national pride, so it&#8217;s in Matthews&#8217; best interest to sit out Monday.
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/@daily_faceoff">Daily Faceoff Live</a> is on the road! From February 10th to 20th, we’re bringing you live shows every weekday straight from Four Nations, delivering exclusive coverage, insider analysis, and all the tournament action as it unfolds. Don’t miss a beat—subscribe to the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@daily_faceoff">Daily Faceoff YouTube channel</a> and follow us on social for the latest updates. It’s international hockey, so expect intensity, excitement, and maybe even a little chaos. Stay locked in and catch us live from Four Nations!
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Team USA and Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews has been ruled out of Monday's game against Team Sweden.

<a href="https://x.com/RussoHockey/status/1891649038769885461">The Athletic's Michael Russo</a> reported that Matthews is dealing with upper-body soreness, and is expected to play in Thursday's final against Team Canada. It's not believed to be a significant issue, via <a href="https://x.com/reporterchris/status/1891649515855253963">The Athletic's Chris Johnston</a>. It's unclear when Matthews started experience soreness through the 4 Nations Face-Off.

Matthews has missed 15 games for the Maple Leafs due to an upper-body injury, but he's been in great form since returning to the lineup on January 4. The 27-year-old has recorded 20 goals and 45 points in 40 games for the Maple Leafs.

It appears at the time of this filing that it's a precautionary measure. Matthews and Team USA clinched its berth to the 4 Nations Face-Off final with a <a href="https://theleafsnation.com/news/6-takeaways-canada-usa-thriller-mayhem-montreal-guentzel-larkin-elevate">3-1 victory over Team Canada on Saturday</a>. Matthews has been primarily paired with Jake Guentzel and Jack Hughes at 5-on-5.

"Definitely wanted to come out and send a message right away," <a href="https://theleafsnation.com/news/auston-matthews-shakes-off-boos-send-message-usa-win-canada">Matthews said</a>, of the electric start to USA's victory over Canada, which started with three fights in nine seconds. "And those three guys stepping up like that, I mean, those guys are as hard as it gets when it comes to just playing the game hard and with an edge."

Jake Sanderson will also enter Team USA's lineup in place of Charlie McAvoy. Matthew Tkachuk was previously ruled out, with the expectation that he will suit up for Thursday's final against Canada.

Team Sweden is also battling the flu, and Linus Ullmark, Rickard Rakell and Mika Zibanejad have all been ruled out of Monday's game. Samuel Ersson is starting for Team Sweden as a result. Sweden has been eliminated from the tournament, after two overtime losses in round robin play.

There's nothing to play for but national pride, so it's in Matthews' best interest to sit out Monday.
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/@daily_faceoff">Daily Faceoff Live</a> is on the road! From February 10th to 20th, we’re bringing you live shows every weekday straight from Four Nations, delivering exclusive coverage, insider analysis, and all the tournament action as it unfolds. Don’t miss a beat—subscribe to the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@daily_faceoff">Daily Faceoff YouTube channel</a> and follow us on social for the latest updates. It’s international hockey, so expect intensity, excitement, and maybe even a little chaos. Stay locked in and catch us live from Four Nations!

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Auston Matthews ruled out vs. Sweden, expected to play Thursday vs. Canada

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Toronto Maple Leafs right wing William Nylander (88) skates with the puck defended by Detroit Red Wings right wing Patrick Kane (88) in the third period at Little Caesars Arena.

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