MILAN — The United States men’s hockey team faces Sweden in a quarterfinal matchup Wednesday at the Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena, marking the first time Toronto Maple Leafs teammates Auston Matthews and William Nylander will compete against each other in a game since their Under-18 World Championship encounter 12 years ago.
The contest carries significant weight, as the losing team will be eliminated from medal contention. Nylander acknowledged the special nature of the game, recalling that when they first played against each other as teenagers, he hadn’t yet envisioned their future as teammates. “I think 12 years ago, I probably didn’t even know that we were going to be teammates,” Nylander said. “So now after playing, I don’t know, 10 years together, it’s going to be very special and a lot of fun.”
Matthews currently leads the American squad with three goals and five points in three games, while Nylander contributed a goal and an assist in Sweden’s win over Latvia, bringing his tournament total to two goals and four points in four games. Matthews expressed anticipation for the challenge, noting his decade-long relationship with Nylander. “I’m sure it’ll be interesting,” Matthews told TSN’s Mark Masters. “Obviously he’s a decent friend and teammate of mine for 10 years now. He’s a special player, a great guy, a great friend.”
U.S. Coach Mike Sullivan has praised Matthews’ development throughout the tournament, particularly after a slow start. Teammate Zach Werenski highlighted Matthews’ all-around contributions, stating, “He does a lot of things really well, even when he’s not producing, that people might not notice. Everyone’s always focused on his goal-scoring and rightfully so. He’s one of the best goal scorers in the world. But since we’ve been here, he’s been such a leader for us the way he plays the game.” U.S. General Manager Bill Guerin echoed this sentiment, emphasizing Matthews’ two-way play and defensive capabilities as qualities that set him apart.
Team USA is expected to commence the knockout round without Kyle Connor in the lineup. Connor, who was scratched from the final preliminary game against Germany after registering no shots on goal in two games, was the 14th forward during line rushes at Tuesday’s practice. Clayton Keller is projected to continue on the left wing alongside Dylan Larkin and Tage Thompson. Coach Sullivan praised Keller’s offensive instincts and ability to play within the team’s structure.
The American penalty kill has been a standout aspect of their game, remaining perfect at 9-for-9. The forward units include J.T. Miller and Vincent Trocheck, Larkin and Brock Nelson, and Jack Eichel and Matt Boldy, with Jake Guentzel rotating in. The defensive pairings consist of Jaccob Slavin and Brock Faber, and Jake Sanderson and Charlie McAvoy, with Noah Hanifin also seeing time on the penalty kill.
A minor equipment adjustment saw Charlie McAvoy remove the protective “fishbowl” from his face during Tuesday’s practice, after wearing it since sustaining a fractured jaw in November. Brock Nelson briefly donned a full cage during practice due to a facial injury, prompting McAvoy to offer advice on playing with the equipment.
Tournament organizers have also made a change to the rink’s boards, replacing dark green banners with lighter shades to improve puck visibility for goaltenders, following concerns raised by the NHL and Team USA. Lukáš Dostál, the Czech Republic’s goaltender, noted that he hadn’t even realized the change had been made, but acknowledged the potential benefit for goalies.
Jack Hughes expressed excitement about his mother, Ellen Hughes, who is a development consultant for the United States women’s hockey team, which is set to play Canada for the gold medal on Thursday. Hughes and his brother, Quinn Hughes, have both been contributing offensively for the U.S. Men’s team, with Quinn leading American defensemen with four assists and Jack recording three points in three games. Matthew Tkachuk praised Jack Hughes’ puck-handling skills and seamless transition to a fourth-line role.
