Team USA Reaches IIHF Final with 6-2 Win Over Sweden

Team USA secured a dominant 6-2 victory over co-host Sweden in the semifinals of the 2025 IIHF World Championship, advancing to the gold medal game for the first time since 1934 and ending a more than 90-year gold medal drought at the tournament. The Americans took an early lead with goals from Brady Skjei and Cutter Gauthier and maintained control throughout, despite a brief Swedish rally with goals from William Nylander and Elias Lindholm. Other American scorers included Conor Garland, Mikey Eyssimont, Jackson Lacombe, and Shane Pinto, who finished with three points. The U.S. team, noted for its youth and standout players like Clayton Keller and Zach Werenski, will face either Switzerland or Denmark in the final, with both opponents having never won a world title. This result marks the team's best finish at a standalone World Championship since 1950, improving on recent performances where they had consistently reached but lost in the semifinals. The victory boosts American hopes for a rare world championship gold and sets the stage for a historic final at the Avicii Arena in Stockholm.