NHL Player News
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Charlie McAvoy D | BOS
Bruins' Charlie McAvoy: Status uncertain for Thursday
McAvoy was admitted to Massachussetts General Hospital due to an upper-body injury, according to Jim McBride of The Boston Globe on Monday.
McAvoy's availability for the 4 Nations Face-Off championship game Thursday against Team Canada is seemingly now in question. The Americans are dealing with a few injuries, and when asked about the statuses of the sidelined players, head coach Mike Sullivan said "We'll probably have more information tomorrow." McAvoy should be considered day-to-day at this time.
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Jack Eichel C | LV
Golden Knights' Jack Eichel: Fourth assist of 4 Nations Face-Off
Eichel picked up his fourth assist of the 4 Nations Face-Off in the USA's 2-1 loss to Sweden on Monday.
Eichel has been highly effective in three games so far, putting up helpers against every competitor. He heads into Thursday's championship game against Canada not knowing if either of his line mates, Matthew Tkachuk (lower body) or Brady Tkachuk (undisclosed), will be available after injuries suffered against Canada and Sweden, respectively. Eichel may need to step his game up even more if those two are unable to dress.
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William Nylander RW | TOR
Maple Leafs' William Nylander: Another apple at 4 Nations Face-Off
Nylander picked up an assist Monday in Sweden's 2-1 win over the United States at the 4 Nations Face-Off.
It was his second assist. Nylander heads back to Toronto after a solid, yet unspectacular tournament. It's not that Willie had a bad competition -- it's that he didn't explode offensively to help carry Sweden closer to the top of the standings. Nylander won't let it weigh on him -- he is the epitome of the idiom water off a duck's back.
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Chris Kreider LW | NYR
Rangers' Chris Kreider: Gets goal in first 4 Nations game
Kreider scored a goal in the USA's 2-1 loss to Sweden at the 4 Nations Face-Off on Monday.
It was Kreider's first game of the tournament, and he scored just 35 seconds into the game. Kreider was Johnny-on-the-spot when Samuel Ersson kicked out a rebound off a Zach Werenski shot and straight onto the forward's tape. He wired it into a wide-open net. Kreider's NHL season has been forgettable -- he has just 20 points, including 16 goals, in 47 games -- after putting up a wicked 39 goals and 75 points in 82 games the season before. This goal could go a long way to boosting his confidence. A tournament win Thursday would be an even bigger boost.
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Zach Werenski D | CLB
Blue Jackets' Zach Werenski: Tied for 4 Nations scoring lead
Werenski picked up an assist in the United States' 2-1 loss to Sweden at the 4 Nations Face-Off on Monday.
Werenski carried the puck through the neutral zone and into the offensive zone before firing a shot on Samuel Ersson from the right face-off circle. The Swedish netminder made the save and directed the rebound toward the left circle and right onto the tape of Chris Kreider, who buried it into an open net. Werenski played a game-high 24:08, and he had six shots. He earned the game's third star for the effort. His assist was his fifth of the tournament, which tied him with Sidney Crosby of Canada for the overall scoring lead.
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Jake Oettinger G | DAL
Stars' Jake Oettinger: Sharp in USA loss to Sweden
Oettinger made 21 saves in the United States' 2-1 loss to Sweden at the 4 Nations Face-Off on Monday.
Oettinger allowed both goals in the first period; both were almost thread-the-needle perfect to beat the Dallas star. The first came on a fantastic Gustav Nyquist deflection as he drove to the net that changed the direction of the puck enough to eek through Oettinger and into the net. The second was a Jesper Bratt wheel-and-whip shot through traffic that went shelf over the netminder's glove. Oettinger will be back on the end of the bench Thursday as Connor Hellebuyck takes the blue paint in the championship game against Canada.
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Gustav Nyquist C | NSH
Predators' Gustav Nyquist: Goal against USA at 4 Nations
Nyquist scored a goal in Sweden's 2-1 win over the United States at the 4 Nations Face-Off on Monday.
Nyquist was headed to the net and got his stick on a shot from the right boards. It was enough to change the direction of the puck and get it through Jake Oettinger in the first period. Nyquist has struggled this season, like almost all of the Predators, and he has just 20 points (nine goals, 11 assists) in 53 games after establishing a career high with 75 points, including 52 assists, the year before. This best-on-best play could be the boost Nyquist needs to bring up his game for the rest of the season.
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Jesper Bratt LW | NJ
Devils' Jesper Bratt: Player-of-the-game honor against US
Bratt scored a goal in Sweden's 2-1 win over the United States at the 4 Nations Face-Off on Monday.
Bratt has been Sweden's best player in this tourney, and he was finally rewarded with his first goal and Player-of-the-Game honors. He took a feed as he crossed the high slot toward the left circle, and then he wheeled and flung the puck hard at the U.S. net, beating Jake Oettinger high glove. It stood as the winner. Bratt came into the tournament on an eight-game, 12-point streak (two goals, 10 assists), and he returns to New Jersey carrying the pride of Sweden.
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Samuel Ersson G | PHI
Flyers' Samuel Ersson: Second star in win over USA
Ersson made 31 saves in Sweden's 2-1 win over the United States at the 4 Nations Face-Off on Monday.
Ersson allowed a goal to Chris Kreider just 35 seconds into the game, but battened the hatches from that point and stoned the American snipers. He earned the game's second star for his work. Ersson returns to Philly on a high -- this was his first appearance at the tourney. He has started 30 of his team's 57 games, and he's 16-10-3 with two shutouts, 2.81 GAA and .896 save percentage.
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Brady Tkachuk LW | OTT
Senators' Brady Tkachuk: Won't return against Sweden
Tkachuk (undisclosed) has been ruled out for the remainder of Team USA's game against Sweden, according to Kyle Bukauskas of Sportsnet on Monday.
Tkachuk was shaken up after crashing into the opposing net in the opening stanza. The left-shot winger took one shift after that but didn't come out for the start of the second period. All eyes will be on Tkachuk's status come Thursday, when the Americans face off against Team Canada in the 4 Nations Final.