Blog: Keep Up With the Preds at the 2025 IIHF Men's World Championship

The 2025 IIHF Men’s World Championship is underway, and the Predators are well represented on and off the ice.

Six Preds players are representing their respective countries in the annual tournament, which is taking place in Sweden and Denmark, with some of the world’s best facing off.

Preds Alternate Captain Filip Forsberg is representing his native Sweden, while Alternate Captain Ryan O’Reilly is skating for Canada. Forward Michael McCarron and defenseman Brady Skjei are playing for the United States, and Nashville’s Finnish goaltenders - Juuse Saros and Justus Annunen - are both minding the net for their home country.

Additionally, Predators Assistant General Manager/Director of Scouting Jeff Kealty is the general manager for the Americans, while Preds Video Coach Lawrence Feloney and Head Equipment Manager Pete Rogers are serving in those roles for the United States as well.

The schedule begins on May 9 with games on the calendar through May 20 before the quarterfinals start on May 22. The medal games are set for May 25 at Avicii Arena in Stockholm, Sweden, also the site of where the Preds will face the Pittsburgh Penguins for a pair of games in November for the 2025 NHL Global Series.

Here’s a look at how the Preds are faring at the 2025 IIHF Men’s World Championship.

May 9-11:

The tournament began with Saros making 14 saves in a 2-1 win for Finland over Austria. The single goal allowed by Saros was also the first tally he’s ever surrendered in an Ice Hockey World Championship; the Preds netminder was previously 3-0 with three shutouts headed into the tournament.

Forsberg’s Swedes defeated Slovakia by a 5-0 final on May 9, and the Americans shut out Denmark by a 5-0 count. O’Reilly, who was named an alternate captain for Canada, recorded an assist on Canada’s fourth goal as they shut out Slovenia by a 4-0 final on May 10.

Sweden had a thrilling comeback over Austria on May 10 with three goals in the final three minutes of regulation for a 4-2 win, and the United States shut out Hungary by a 6-0 final on May 11. The Canadians also beat Latvia by a 7-1 score, and Finland topped France, 4-3, in overtime to finish out the weekend.

May 12:

Saros was excellent in a 39-save effort, but Finland fell to Forsberg and the Swedes by a 2-1 final on Monday. Additionally, Switzerland shut out the United States by a 3-0 count.

May 13:

O'Reilly added a secondary assist on Will Cuylle's goal as Canada shut out France by a 5-0 count.

May 14:

McCarron tallied his first of the tournament to help the U.S. win a 6-5 overtime thriller against Norway - a game that saw the Americans surrender a 4-1 lead to eventually prevail in OT. Plus, Forsberg's Swedes cruised past Latvia by a 6-0 final.

May 15:

Saros made 16 saves to earn his second win of the tournament as Finland trounced Slovenia by a 9-1 final. O'Reilly's Canadians also beat Austria, 5-1.

May 16:

Forsberg recorded a secondary assist on the second of three goals for Elias Lindholm as Sweden shut out Slovenia by a 4-0 final.

May 17-18:

Saros was excellent as he stopped 34 of 35 shots to lead Finland to a 2-1 victory over Latvia on Saturday. Later, the United States beat Germany, 6-3, and then Forsberg collected the primary assist on Sweden's fourth and final goal as they shut out France. Finally, O'Reilly's Canadians blanked Slovakia by a 7-0 count. One day later, McCarron recorded an assist to help the Americans beat Kazakhstan by a 6-1 final.

May 19:

Saros and O'Reilly both made their marks as Canada faced Finland on Monday. O'Reilly scored the lone goal for his team in regulation, but Saros stopped 37 of 38 shots he faced through overtime before the Finns prevailed in a shootout by a 2-1 final. Saros stopped O'Reilly in the shootout as the goaltender handed Canada their first loss of the tournament. Finland is now 4-1-0-1 at the Worlds, and Saros owns a 1.26 goals-against average and a .954 save percentage through four games.

May 20:

Saros got a well-deserved break on Tuesday as the Finns beat Slovakia by a 2-1 final. The Americans topped Czechia by a 5-2 count, and O'Reilly's Canadians defeated Forsberg's Swedes by a 5-3 score. Forsberg assisted on Sweden's second tally, but it was O'Reilly who not only scored for Canada but made his mark on the record books as well. By appearing in his 62nd career game for Canada at the World Championships, he became the country's all-time leader in games played at the tournament - and was celebrated accordingly.

May 22:

Saros and the Finns saw their time at the tournament come to a close as they lost to Skjei, McCarron and the Americans by a 5-2 final on Thursday. Saros made 23 saves in the loss. Later, O'Reilly and the Canadians were stunned by Denmark with a 2-1 loss, but Forsberg tallied for Sweden in their 5-2 victory to advance over Czechia.

With that, all remaining Preds players - Forsberg for Sweden; Skjei and McCarron for the U.S. - will face one another on Saturday with at least one skater guaranteed to advance to the championship game.

May 24:

Skjei tallied a goal and an assist to lead Team USA to a 6-2 victory over Forsberg and Sweden to advance to the Gold Medal game, while Sweden will face Denmark for bronze.

May 25:

Skjei recorded the secondary assist on Tage Thompson's Golden Goal as the United States beat Switzerland, 1-0, in overtime to win Gold at the IIHF World Championship for the first time in 92 years. McCarron, Kealty, Feloney and Rogers also helped lead their country to the Gold medal. Forsberg also earned a medal to conclude the tournament as Sweden beat Denmark for bronze.