B. Tkachuk sustains lower-body injury in U.S. loss to Sweden

BOSTON -- Brady Tkachuk sustained a lower-body injury for the United States in a 2-1 loss to Sweden in the 4 Nations Face-Off at TD Garden on Monday.

Tkachuk appeared to sustain the injury at 5:12 of the first period when he lost an edge on a rush through the right circle and crashed hard into Sweden goalie Samuel Ersson's left leg and skate, dislodging the net.

He took a shift that lasted 10 seconds before leaving the game and heading back to the U.S. dressing room.

Tkachuk returned not long after and went for a skate during a television timeout. He then took another 14-second shift at 14:11, but he didn't play again the rest of the period, staying at the end of the U.S. bench.

Tkachuk did not return for the second period, when he was ruled out.

“Brady obviously had a lower-body injury,” U.S. coach Mike Sullivan said. “We held him out more for precautionary reasons at that point. I haven't got an update to this point after the game yet, so we'll see how he responds, but I don't anticipate it being an issue.”

The U.S. was already playing without Matthew Tkachuk (lower body) and Auston Matthews (upper body), leaving it with 11 forwards entering the game. Defenseman Charlie McAvoy also missed the game with an upper-body injury.

“Charlie, right now he's out with an upper-body injury. Auston was more banged up or nicked up I should say," Sullivan said. "We'll probably have more information tomorrow with those guys.

“We're hopeful we're going to get some of these guys back. I would anticipate we would. We'll have to wait and see how things play out here over the next day or so. Obviously, there will be contingency planning in the event that we need people."

Brady said prior to the loss to Sweden that Matthew will play against Canada in the 4 Nations Face-Off championship game Thursday (8 p.m. ET; ESPN+, ESPN, SN, TVAS). Matthew gave an indication that he will be in the U.S. lineup when he spoke with TNT during the first intermission Monday.

“I’m expecting the best environment I’ve ever played in on Thursday night,” he said. “I’m so excited.”