After Team USA’s morning skate at Boston University’s Agganis Arena on Monday, head coach Mike Sullivan revealed some changes to the lineup ahead of their game against Sweden that evening at TD Garden.
Following their 3-1 victory over Canada on Saturday in Montreal, Team USA secured a spot in Thursday’s championship game at the 4 Nations Face-Off. Their opponent was confirmed later on Monday after Canada held off a late push from Finland to secure a 5-3 win, setting up a rematch with Team USA.
Sullivan’s announced lineup adjustments weren’t unexpected. Goalie Connor Hellebuyck was given a rest, and Dallas Stars netminder Jake Oettinger was tapped to start, with Boston Bruins’ Jeremy Swayman as his backup. Forward Matthew Tkachuk was sidelined due to a lower-body injury sustained on Saturday, and Sullivan also mentioned that Charlie McAvoy would be sitting out the game against Sweden for rest.
Charlie McAvoy
While some Bruins fans were initially surprised, Ty Anderson of 98.5 The Sports Hub later reported the real reason for McAvoy’s absence, which raised concerns. According to Anderson, McAvoy was out due to an upper-body injury, and his status for Thursday’s championship game is uncertain.
The exact timing of the injury remains unclear, as McAvoy had played through the entirety of the Canada game on Saturday. It might have occurred in the first period when he delivered a big hit to Canada’s Connor McDavid in the defensive zone. Regardless, this injury news is troubling for both Thursday’s game and the Bruins when the NHL season resumes on Saturday.
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