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Detroit Red Wings Todd McLellan, Ben Chiarot & Alex DeBrincat, Dec. 23, 2025 in Detroit.
The United States is perfect in its attempt for a three-peat at the world junior hockey championship as the level of competition ramps up with each game.
That continues on Wednesday, Dec. 31 when the USA (3-0) faces Sweden (3-0) in the final preliminary round game with the top seed in Group A on the line before the quarterfinals begin on Jan. 2.
The USA has already beaten Germany, Switzerland and Slovakia. They have been without top defenseman Cole Hutson since midway through the Switzerland game after he was hit by a puck and left the ice on a stretcher. He won’t play on Wednesday and remains day-to-day.
The Americans also faced adversity in the Slovakia game, overcoming a 2-0 deficit to pull off a wild win.
USA TODAY Sports will provide live updates on the USA vs. Sweden world junior championships game. Follow along:
Sweden’s Caspe Juustovaara gets a good bounce when his pass through the crease goes in off USA defenseman Logan Hensler’s skate at 9:17. This is the second consecutive game in which the USA has allowed the first goal. Sweden 1, USA 0
USA hits the post. Shots are 3-3.
Goalie matchup is USA’s Brady Knowling, a 17-year-old, vs. Sweden’s Love Harenstam.
What channel is USA vs. Sweden world juniors hockey game today?
TV channel:Â NHL Network
Livestream: Fubo, which offers a free trial to new subscribers, or Sling TV.
Watch world junior championships on Fubo
What time is USA vs. Sweden world juniors hockey game today?
Date:Â Wednesday, Dec. 31
Time:Â 6 p.m. ET (5 p.m. local time)
The game is scheduled to start at 6 p.m. ET (5 p.m. local time) at the Grand Casino Arena in Saint Paul, Minnesota, the home of the Minnesota Wild.
World juniors USA vs Sweden: How to watch, stream
Time:Â 6 p.m. ET on Wedneday, Dec. 31
Location:Â Grand Casino Arena (Saint Paul, Minnesota)
TV:Â NHL Network
Streaming: Fubo and certain levels of Sling TV carry NHL Network.
Today’s world juniors hockey schedule
All times p.m. ET
Dec. 31
Switzerland 3, Slovakia 2: Loris Wey and Mike Aeschlimann scored power-play goals after Tobias Tomik received a double minor for high sticking in the first period. Kevin Haas’ second period goal ended up being the game-winner as Slovakia scored twice in the last 13 minutes. Switzerland finishes third and Slovakia fourth in Group A. The Swiss will face the Canada-Finland loser and Slovakia will face the winner.Czechia vs. Latvia, 3:30USA vs. Sweden, 6Canada vs. Finland, 8:30
The 17-year-old plays for the U.S. National Team Development Program.
Here are the lines for USA and Sweden, which will decide Group A.
Still no Cole Hutson (WSH) or Max Plante (DET) for the Americans. And Victor Johansson (TOR) comes out for Sweden. pic.twitter.com/iAXblM5Dt7
— Scott Wheeler (@scottcwheeler) December 31, 2025
The USA and Sweden are meeting for the 38th time in the tournament. The Americans have won 19 times to Sweden’s 17, with two ties. The U.S. has won seven of the last 10 games and beat Sweden 6-2 in the 2024 gold-medal game.
USA forward Plante will miss the Sweden game with an undisclosed injury. He’s listed as day-to-day.
Hutson, who has been out since the Switzerland game after he was hit in the head by a shot, has been ruled out of the Sweden game. He remains day-to-day.
Will Zellers leads the USA with four goals and six points. He has the game-winning goal in the first three games. James Hagens (Bruins), AJ Spellacy (Blackhawks) and Brodie Ziemer (Sabres) have four points apiece.
Blackhawks prospect Anton Frondell has three goals and five points. He was drafted No. 3 overall in 2025. Viggo Bjorck, eligible for the 2026 NHL draft, also has three goals. Ivar Stenberg, who’s challenging to be the top of the draft, has a goal and two assists.