USA vs. Sweden, 2018 World Juniors: Final score and highlights for semifinal game

Sweden 4, USA 2: And that’s the game. The United States will fall in the semifinals to Sweden 4-2 and they will not repeat as World Junior champions. Missed opportunities and a scattered start to the third period doomed them here, but they’ll have the chance to win bronze on Friday against the loser of the Czech Republic vs. Canada game later on Thursday.

Sweden 4, USA 2: With minutes left, the Americans have closed the gap to two goals. Brady Tkachuk gets another short-range goal in front of Gustavsson with the goaltender pulled. Strap in, folks, cause the United States is also getting a late power play.

Sweden 4, USA 1: There’s one! Bellows has his seventh goal of the tournament after roofing it on the power play. Gustavsson had no chance with Bellows cutting across the front of the net, but there’s seven and a half minutes to play and the United States needs three goals.

Sweden 4, USA 0: We’re under the nine minute mark and not much has changed for Team USA. They’ll need a lot of good fortune, or for Gustavsson to lose his head somehow, in order to get back in this one. The Americans are heading on a power play, though they’ve been 0-for-4 so far on the man advantage.

Sweden 4, USA 0: And just like that, another shorthanded rush dings off the crossbar above Woll and it’s 4-0 Sweden now. Two goals in 38 seconds against Woll and Jake Oettinger is now in net for the United States.

Sweden 3, USA 0: A shorthanded goal may just put this one away for Sweden with 12 minutes to play. On a 2-on-1 rush, Oskar Steen opted to shoot instead of pass and the puck went top shelf over Woll for the 3-0 score.

Sweden 2, USA 0: After the failed power play, a Swedish rush up the ice results in a goal to double their lead with 13:43 to play in the game. Lias Andersson was the beneficiary of a give-and-go with Fredrik Karlstrom and the forward tucked the puck in behind Woll for the 2-0 score.

The United States will get a power play, however, so they’re not out of it yet.

Sweden 1, USA 0: Team USA will open the period with a power play at the four minute mark of the third frame. Erik Brännström’s interference call is a perfect opportunity for the United States to even the score.

Sweden 1, USA 0: The Americans put the pressure on in the final few moments of the second period, but Gustavsson has looked strong after a flurry of chances. Being behind going into the final frame is familiar territory for the United States, but they’ll need to bury their chances. After two periods, Team USA is outshooting Sweden 19-13, but that crucial American power play opportunity was erased by a ill-timed penalty. The chances are there for Team USA, they’ll just have to capitalize.

Sweden 1, USA 0: Well, that power play didn’t last long. Woll caught the Swedes on a change and sent the Americans on a rare 3-on-0 opportunity, but Bellows interfered with the goalie and we’ll play 4-on-4 for the rest of the frame.

Sweden 1, USA 0: The Americans will get a power play with 1:19 left in the second period. After dominating the last few moments, this may be a turning point with the end of the frame coming up shortly.

Sweden 1, USA 0: Going to the box too many times early hurt the Americans, as Sweden takes the 1-0 lead on the power play. Elias Petersson’s bullet of a shot from the left circle bested Woll top shelf with 6:30 to go in the second period.

USA 0, Sweden 0: On a delayed American penalty, the Swedes had an incredible opportunity to take first blood, but Woll stopped the breakaway attempt with a pad save. The penalty, a high stick from Dylan Samberg, is Team USA’s third of the day.

USA 0, Sweden 0: The day’s best sequence started with Dahlin just missing on a chance in front of the net after slashing through the US defense.

Riley Tufte had the Americans’ best chance on the counter-rush, but was stopped by Swedish goalie Filip Gustavsson as we remain scoreless.

USA 0, Sweden 0: The Americans killed the Swedish power play quite easily, but Sweden might not be happy with their effort so far. About halfway through the game, they only have seven shots and have been turnover machines in the neutral zone. Not a smart plan if they want to knock off the reigning World Junior champions.

USA 0, Sweden 0: Sweden goes back to the power play two minutes into the second period. Max Jones sits for hooking, so Woll will likely be tested once more.

USA 0, Sweden 0: A relatively uneventful first period is over, but action picked up after the United States’ power play. The Americans seem more sharp than Sweden so far, as the Swedes had a handful of turnovers and missed passes. However, Woll’s save on the Sweden power play is the big moment so far, as the Swedes were looking dangerous on the man advantage.

After one period, Team USA is outshooting Sweden 8-5.

USA 0, Sweden 0: The Americans are going on a power play with five minutes left in the first period after Gustav Lindstrom gets two for tripping. There’s a lot of offensive firepower on Team USA’s side, so they could be deadly here.

USA 0, Sweden 0: Woll’s big pad save on the American PK has this game scoreless. And it’s a beauty too. There’s just over 11 minutes left in the first period now.

USA 0, Sweden 0: The first penalty of the game is here seven minutes in, and it’s against the Americans. It’s a rare one too, as Andrew Peeke was called for delay of game after attempting to push goaltender Joseph Woll’s stick back into him in the goal crease.

We’ll see how the Americans respond.

USA 0, Sweden 0: Though the shot count won’t show it, the United States has gotten off to a strong start just five minutes in. The top line of Mittelstadt, Joey Anderson, and Brady Tkachuk has done a good job being relentless on the puck in Sweden’s zone to open the game.

USA 0, Sweden 0: The United States is wearing their Buffalo Bills inspired sweaters for this semifinal game. The last time we saw them, they bested Canada outdoors in the snow.

The United States is just one more victory away from getting a chance to repeat as World Junior champions for the first time in country history. Standing in their way, however, is a semifinal matchup against Sweden at 4 p.m. ET at New Era Field in Buffalo.

Coming into Thursday afternoon’s game, the United States rides into the semifinal match after besting Russia 4-2 on the back of Kieffer Bellows’ pair of goals. The New York Islanders prospect has six goals in the tournament thus far and will likely be a big part of the American’s offensive push.

Also adding a spark on offense is Casey Mittelstadt, whose creativity has been on full display over the course of this tournament.

While the United States had just one slip up against Slovakia in the round robin, Sweden will be their biggest test to date. Swedish defenseman Rasmus Dahlin has been heralded as the NHL’s next No. 1 overall pick, and his talents should not go understated. On offense, the Swedes boast Alexander Nylander, Elias Pettersson, and Lias Andersson, a trio of talent that should give the Americans fits on offense.

Sweden will face the United States after besting Slovakia 3-2 in the quarterfinals.

The winner of this semifinal will have the chance to face the victor of Canada vs. the Czech Republic in the World Junior Championship game, so this should be a good one.

Time: 4 p.m. ET
Location: KeyBank Center, Buffalo, N.Y.
TV: NHL Network (U.S.), TSN1, TSN3, TSN4, TSN5, RDS (Canada)
Live stream: TSNGO (Canada only, subscription required)