By USA Hockey, 05/24/25, 11:45AM EDT
STOCKHOLM, Sweden – A three-point performance (1g, 2a) from Shane Pinto (Franklin Square, N.Y./Ottawa Senators/University of North Dakota) and goals from six different players helped propel the U.S. Men’s National Team to a 6-2 victory over Sweden in the semifinals of the 2025 IIHF Men’s World Championship here today at Avicii Arena.
Team USA will face Switzerland semifinal in the gold-medal game tomorrow (May 25) at 8:20 p.m. local, 2:20 p.m. ET. The contest will be broadcast live on NHL Network.
“Every single guy contributed to the win and I couldn’t be more proud of our group,” said Ryan Warsofsky, head coach of the U.S. Men’s National Team. “We’ll focus on getting some rest and be ready to play tomorrow.”
Brady Skjei (Lakeville, Minn./Nashville Predators/University of Minnesota) opened the scoring for Team USA at 6:52 of the opening frame. He wristed a shot from that point that found the back of the net following an offensive-zone faceoff win from Pinto to give the U.S. the early lead.
A strong forecheck from Pinto and Will Smith (Lexington, Mass./San Jose Sharks/Boston College) forced a Swedish turnover that led to a chance for Cutter Gauthier (Scottsdale, Ariz./Anaheim Ducks/Boston College) to double the U.S. lead with 5:40 left in the first, but his chance was denied by Swedish netminder Jacob Markström.
Gauthier capitalized on another Swedish turnover generated by a strong presence in the offensive zone, as he forced a puck through Markström’s five-hole following shots from Pinto and Smith at 17:13.
U.S. netminder Jeremy Swayman (Anchorage, Alaska/Boston Bruins/University of Maine) made a stellar save with 10:56 remaining in the second to keep the U.S. ahead by two when he sprawled across the crease to deny a Swedish opportunity just in front of the net. Swayman finished with 27 saves to pick up his sixth win of the tournament.
Team USA extended its lead to 3-0 at 11:07, as Conor Garland (Scituate, Mass./Vancouver Canucks) powered home a rebound chance after a one-timer from Logan Cooley (Pittsburgh, Pa./Utah Mammoth/University of Minnesota).
Mikey Eyssimont (Littleton, Colo./Seattle Kraken/St. Cloud State University) added to the U.S. lead at 17:03 when he fired a wrister past Markström after a cross-ice pass from Matty Beniers (Hingham, Mass./Seattle Kraken/University of Michigan).
William Nylander put Sweden on the board at 6:32 of the third on a shot from just in front of Swayman’s crease. Elias Lindholm scored 42 seconds later on a one-timer from the slot to put the hosts to within two, resulting in a U.S. timeout.
Jackson LaCombe (Eden Prairie, Minn./Anaheim Ducks/University of Minnesota) responded with a goal at 11:09 firing a shot over Swedish goalie Samuel Ersson’s blocker to give the U.S. a 5-2 lead. Pinto added an empty-net goal from below his own goal-line at 15:53 to account for the 6-2 final.
The victory ended a 12-game losing streak in the men’s worlds semifinals and has the U.S. playing in its first gold-medal game in the event since 1934.
NOTES: Shane Pinto was named U.S. Player of the Game … Team USA was 0-1 on the power play, while Sweden finished 0-2 … Sweden outshot the U.S., 29-28 … Conor Garland, Frank Nazar and Logan Cooley were named the top three U.S. players of the tournament.
Tag(s): News Men's World Championship Home 2025 Men's Worlds
