Auston Matthews Out Against Sweden Due to Injury

Auston Matthews, captain of Team USA, will not play in Monday's 4 Nations Face-Off game against Sweden due to upper-body soreness. The decision to rest Matthews is precautionary, as the United States has already secured a spot in the championship game against Canada on Thursday. Alongside Matthews, Matthew Tkachuk and Charlie McAvoy will also miss the game, resulting in Team USA playing with 17 skaters. Despite Matthews' absence, which is not due to a serious injury, he is expected to return for the final. The game against Sweden holds no seeding implications, thus allowing Matthews to recover without risking further injury. This strategy aims to ensure that key players are fit for the decisive match against Canada.