Alexander Nylander scored in the second period and Linus Soderstrom pitched a 46-save performance for Sweden to hand Team USA a 1-0 loss in Group A in the 2016 World Junior Championship on Monday at Helsinki Ice Hall.
Nylander took a feed from fellow Maple Leafs prospect Dmytro Timashov for a breakaway then went top shelf on Hurricanes prospect Alex Nedelijkovic for the game’s lone goal.
The Americans were given plenty of chances to tie the game. Sweden committed eight penalties during the game with six of them coming in the final two frames. Senators prospect and Sweden captain Andreas Englund checked Matthew Tkachuk into the board when Timashov was already in the penalty box to give the U.S. a two-man advantage. Despite having several chances, the Americans came away empty thanks to Soderstrom’s efforts.
Late in the second period, Louie Depeldio, a Skokie, Ill. native, had possibly the best chance for the U.S., but Soderstrom made a glove save to keep the shutout.
The U.S. lost Alex DeBrincat for the second straight game before the second period. DeBrincat, who was ejected from the game against Canada, left the ice with 12.6 seconds left after being driven head-first into the boards by Swedish defenseman Ollas Mattsson. He suffered a gash on his forehead and did not return.
The loss snaps the U.S.’ 12-game win streak against Sweden in the tournament, dating back to 1996.
Sweden is now 2-0-0-0 and moves into first place in Group A with six points, while the U.S. is third at 1-0-0-1 with Canada (0-0-0-1) still to play Denmark (1-0-0-0) later in the day.