A week ago, the Americans were being left for dead in the tournament. They had just endured a 2-1 loss to Russia and were about to experience an identical result against Canada. As they prepared for their defining group stage match with Slovakia, many questioned whether the Americans might be headed to the relegation round for a second straight year.
The United States, broke out for nine goals in that one and have added another 12 in their last two games. Their latest one was the most impressive of all as the Americans blitzed Canada for five goals in a rousing 5-1 win. Captain Jake McCabe scored two first period goals while John Gaudreau continued to look like the MVP of the competition with a second period goal. Jim Vesey would add a fourth before Canada finally scored on John Gibson in the third period. Gaudreau would add his second in the later stages of the period to cap off a tremendous night for the Red, White, and Blue. Gibson turned aside 33 shots and now leads all keepers with a 95.43 save percentage and 1.42 goals against average. He has started every single game for the Americans and has only allowed eight goals in all those matches.
There are no questions surrounding the Americans. They have tremendous goaltending, the best defense in the tournament, and the most dynamic offense as well. Gaudreau leads the team with nine points and is the second highest scorer in the tournament. More importantly however is that he leads all players with seven goals scored and if the United States win, he will undoubtedly be the MVP.
Sweden is the defending champion and will get a chance to defend its crown. The Swedes have not been as solid all around as the Americans, but their journey through the tournament has certainly proven their quality. They did not lose a single group stage match. They leveled a potent Finland side 7-4 and in their semi-finals match they shut down Russia with relative ease. Elias Lindholm and Filip Forsberg scored the first goals for Sweden before Russia battled back with two of their own. Forsberg has been rather quiet for the team with only five points in the tournament. He was expected to have a tremendous campaign, but it has not occurred just yet. The goalkeepers have split duties for Sweden. Niklas Lundström has played 166 minutes while allowing four goals and Joel Lassinantti has played 149 minutes with six goals against. Lundström likely gets the start and must play as well or better than Gibson if Sweden wants to win.
United States Wins If: They control the pace of the game as they have in their last three matches. They let Canada take the pace to them in the third period and wound up giving the only goal of the game.
Sweden Wins If: They can weather the early American onslaught and Lundström shuts out the American offense. Forsberg and Collberg need to elevate their level of play in order to win this battle.
Prediction: The Americans find a way to win and Gibson puts up another gem. 4-1 United States.
Start Time: 8 AM EST
TV: TSN, NHL Network
Watch Live Stream at NHL.com by clicking HERE.