USA's Brady Tkachuk exits game vs. Sweden with apparent injury

Already shorthanded, the U.S. had to finish off Monday's game down yet another forward.

Winger Brady Tkachuk exited Monday's 4 Nations Face-Off round-robin finale against Sweden after suffering an apparent injury in the first period. He was ruled out early in the second period.

After the 2-1 loss, U.S. head coach Mike Sullivan told reporters that Tkachuk was held out "more for precautionary reasons," and that it wouldn't be a problem for Thursday's final against Canada.

The incident occurred as Tkachuk and the U.S. were on the attack midway through the first period. The winger tripped and went hard into the net, crashing into Sweden goaltender Samuel Ersson and the post.

After going back to his team's bench in pain, he spoke to one of the team's trainers and went to the dressing room. He returned later in the first period and went out for one more 14-second shift, but then was done.

He did not return to the bench for the second period.

The U.S. was already down a forward going into the game against Sweden as centre and captain Auston Matthews battles an upper-body injury and Matthew Tkachuk was ruled out with a lower-body injury.

Additionally, defenceman Charlie McAvoy missed the showing with an upper-body injury.

Luckily for the Americans, the matchup against Sweden was of little consequence as their ticket to the finals was booked following a 3-1 win over Canada on Saturday. The two sides are set to square off again on Thursday in Boston.