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Greg Wyshynski
Team USA forward Brady Tkachuk left the Americans’ 4 Nations Face-Off game against Sweden on Monday night because of an undisclosed injury.
Tkachuk, who plays for the Ottawa Senators, lost an edge while driving to the Sweden net in the first period and slammed his side into the goal cage just 7:37 into the game. He went back to the U.S. bench in discomfort and eventually left for the trainers’ room.
He returned to the ice for a short 14-second shift later in the period but did not come back out with the team for the second period. USA Hockey announced that he would not return to the game at Boston’s TD Garden.
Tkachuk had five shifts in the game for a total of 1:55 in ice time. He had two goals in the Americans’ win over Finland last week.
It’s another injury concern for the Americans, who will play for the 4 Nation Face-Off championship Thursday in a rematch against archrival Canada.
Matthew Tkachuk, Brady’s older brother, missed Monday’s game out of injury precaution. The Florida Panthers star sat out the final 12:36 of the third period of Team USA’s win over Canada because of a lower-body injury.
The Tkachuk brothers helped set the tone for that 3-1 victory with two fights within the first 3 seconds. They play on either side of center Jack Eichel to form one of the more effective U.S. scoring lines.
Auston Matthews, the team’s No. 1 center, and defenseman Charlie McAvoy also sat out against Sweden for injury precautions.
Matthews had some upper body soreness after the win over Canada. He has one assist in two games for the U.S., averaging 20:16 in ice time. McAvoy has averaged 19:36 in two games with no points.
The U.S. inserted New York Rangers forward Chris Kreider and Senators defenseman Jake Sanderson into their lineup against Sweden, playing with 17 skaters (11 forwards, 6 defensemen) in the game.
Matthew Tkachuk, Matthews and McAvoy are all expected to return for the championship game against Canada. Brady Tkachuk’s status is unclear.