Here are four takeaways from Sweden’s 2-1 victory

• Samuel Ersson was outstanding for Sweden, and considering that he wasn’t named to the initial roster speaks volumes about his excellent work in spot-up duty. Ersson constantly kept the American attack at bay and made an excellent stop on a Brock Nelson breakaway to preserve the lead. Filip Gustavsson and Linus Ullmark were Sweden’s preferred goalies, while Jacob Markstrom was ruled out of the tournament in February but Ersson was arguably its best single-game performer throughout the 4 Nations Face-Off, which may bring his underrated work with the Philadelphia Flyers into focus. Considering that he outduelled Jake Oettinger
• It’s perhaps a case of wrong place, wrong time, but Zach Werenski is making a case to be named tournament MVP if USA defeats Canada on Thursday night. Werenski was USA’s most dynamic skater throughout the contest, and he’s been the team’s best defenceman, in what’s been a standout year overall — he may be the Norris runner-up as currently presented behind his injured countryman, Quinn Hughes. Werenski recorded six shots in all situations, he was active in the rush, he set up Chris Kreider’s opening-minute goal, and was USA’s most commonly-used defender. He’s been outstanding in all situations and he’s tied with Sidney Crosby for the tournament scoring lead. Werenski, Jake Guentzel and Connor Hellebuyck are the leading USA candidates for MVP with a victory Thursday.
• Maple Leafs star William Nylander finished the tournament with two primary assists, but went without a goal. He was arguably Sweden’s best player in its loss to Finland, but ultimately, he did not meet pre-tournament expectations. Nylander is one of the NHL’s best players off the rush, he led all entrants in goals during the 2024-25 campaign, but it didn’t translate on the international stage. There will be plenty of room to analyze how this shapes up for the Maple Leafs (it doesn’t matter in the grand scheme of things, Nylander can take over a game in a flash) but it wasn’t the tournament he was expecting, and now he can resume his focus on a deep playoff run.
• Injuries are piling up for Team USA. Matthews is expected to play for USA in the final, and no matter what your national allegiance is, if you’re a Maple Leafs fan, you’re hoping he suits up. Brady Tkachuk left Monday’s contest and did not return, although USA head coach Mike Sullivan said post-game that he was held out for precautionary reasons. Matthew Tkachuk was already ruled out but is expected to play Thursday, Charlie McAvoy was also ruled out prior to Monday’s game with an upper-body injury and could miss a second straight contest while Vincent Trocheck left the game briefly but returned. You’d imagine that if you’re an NHL general manager, you’d want your star players to rest up but Saturday’s USA-Canada tilt left no room for ambiguity among the players. Dylan Larkin and Jake Sanderson (who was excellent alongside Werenski) will be expected to play larger roles in the final, Jaccob Slavin and Brock Faber will need to bounce back from an uncharacteristically poor night, while several American forwards (Matthews, Trocheck, Kyle Connor, Jack Hughes, Brock Nelson, Jack Eichel — who is exempt, with four assists) are looking for their first goal of the competition. It’ll be the toughest test of what’s been a gruelling 10 days.

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