Chicago Blackhawks will have three players in action Sunday for the United States against Canada in the bronze-medal game at the World Championship in Copenhagen, Denmark.
Sweden, the reigning World champions, will face Switzerland for gold.
Patrick Kane leads Team USA with a tournament-high 19 points. He was held to only two shots in the U.S.’ 6-0 semifinal loss to Sweden on Saturday. Defenseman Connor Murphy had two shots and forward Alex DeBrincat had none. DeBrincat has one goal and eight points in the tournament, while Murphy and defenseman Jordan Oesterle each have one helper. Oesterle hasn’t played since May 10.
It’s the second Canada-U.S. game of the tournament. The Americans won the first game 5-4 in a shootout during the preliminary round. DeBrincat, Oesterle and Kane each recorded an assist in the game. Kane, however, missed his shootout attempt against Arizona Coyotes goaltender Darcy Kuemper.
The U.S. has won bronze twice in the last five years in 2013 and 2015. Canada won gold in 2015 and 2016, but fell to Sweden in the 2017 gold-medal game.
Gold-medal game
Sweden is looking to repeat as World champion for the first time since 1991-92. In order to do so they’ll have to go through Switzerland, who they beat in the 2013 gold-medal game.
Chicago defenseman Erik Gustafsson recorded one assist six games for Sweden before suffering a broken thumb in the team’s 5-3 win over Switzerland in the preliminary round. He had surgery on the injured thumb May 17 and will be in a cast for about three weeks.
Sweden advanced to the gold-medal game behind Nashville Predators forward Viktor Arvidsson’s two goals and Vancouver Canucks goaltender Anders Nilsson’s 41-save shut out against Team USA.
The Swiss shocked Canada with a 3-2 win in the semifinals. Colorado Avalanche winger Sven Andrighetto had two assists in the victory.
Prior to taking silver in 2013, Switzerland’s last Worlds medal was bronze in 1953. The Swiss have won bronze eight times and silver twice, but never gold.
Sunday’s games
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 |