Chicago Blackhawks will have four players in action Saturday for the United States against Sweden in the semifinal round at the World Championship in Copenhagen, Denmark.
Patrick Kane scored two goals to lead Team USA to a 3-2 win over the Czech Republic for a spot in the semifinal. Kane leads the tournament with 19 points (eight goals, 11 assists). Forward Alex DeBrincat and defensemen Connor Murphy and Jordan Oesterle are also on Team USA’s roster. DeBrincat has one goal and eight points, while Murphy and Oesterle have one helper. Oesterle has not played since May 10 against Latvia.
Sweden, the defending Worlds champion, earned its spot in the semifinal with a 3-2 victory over Latvia. Defenseman Erik Gustafsson is out for the rest of the tournament after having surgery Thursday to repair a broken thumb. He also had one assist in the tournament.
The U.S. hasn’t won the tournament in a non-Olympic year since its first title in 1933. Team USA also won the 1960 Olympics. The Winter Games counted as the world championship until 1969 when Worlds became an annual tournament separate from the Olympics.
The other semifinal will feature Canada against Switzerland.
Ryan O’Reilly scored 4:57 into overtime for Canada to knock out Russia while captain Connor McDavid had three assists, including on the winning goal in a 5-4 win. Switzerland pulled off a surprise by eliminating Finland 3-2.
Canada is aiming for its four consecutive gold-medal game and third Worlds title in four years, while Switzerland hasn’t made the title game since 2013 and is hunting for its first gold. The Swiss fell to Sweden in the 2013 gold-medal game. It was the Swiss’ first title game appearance since 1935.
Saturday’s schedule
World Championship schedule
| Matchup | Time | TV |
|---|---|---|
| Bronze-medal game: Canada vs. United States | 8:30 a.m. | NHLN |
| Gold-medal game: Sweden vs. Switzerland | Noon | NHLN |