Injury Updates on Tkachuk Bros, McAvoy and USA Stars Before NHL 4 Nations Championship

Team USA expressed hope that some or all of the players who missed Monday's 4 Nations Face-Off game against Sweden will be able to play in Thursday's final against Canada in Boston.

Forwards Matthew Tkachuk and Auston Matthews, and defenseman Charlie McAvoy were all held out of Monday's game since the United States and Canada had already clinched their spots in the final.

Additionally, forward Brady Tkachuk suffered a lower-body injury when he slid into the net during the first period, and he did not play in the second or third period of Team USA's 2-1 loss.

McAvoy has already been ruled out for the 4 Nations Final, as the Boston Bruins announced Tuesday that he underwent tests at a local hospital related to an upper-body injury:

Vancouver Canucks defenseman Quinn Hughes is traveling to Boston to replace McAvoy, head coach Mike Sullivan told reporters on Tuesday.

According to ESPN's Greg Wyshynski, both Matthews and McAvoy were held out due to upper-body injuries, and while the exact nature of Matthew Tkachuk's injury was not revealed, he missed the third period of last weekend's win over Canada.

All of those absences were deemed "precautionary" by Team USA head coach Mike Sullivan, as was the decision to keep Brady Tkachuk off the ice during the second and third periods Monday. Sullivan added, "We'll see how it responds, but I don't anticipate it being an issue," regarding Brady Tkachuk's availability for the final.

Sullivan also said Matthews was more "nicked up" than McAvoy, but Jim McBride of the Boston Globe reported that McAvoy was admitted into Massachusetts General Hospital on Monday for undisclosed reasons.

Per Wyshynski, Team USA star Jack Eichel expressed his belief that the Americans will be "good to go" for the final, and fellow Team USA forward Jack Hughes said, "I mean, I'm not a doctor. But I'm sure a lot of those guys will be playing on Thursday."

With Matthew Tkachuk, Matthews and McAvoy missing Monday's game, Team USA inserted forward Chris Kreider and defenseman Jake Sanderson into the lineup. The Americans played one player short, and they were actually two players down for most of the game once Brady Tkachuk went out.

The Team USA roster can cover the absence of one forward and one defenseman, but if more than that cannot play in the final, the United States brought Hughes into the picture.

Canada had to do that with defenseman Thomas Harley in the first game against Team USA when both Shea Theodore and Cale Makar were unavailable.

Sullivan had acknowledged that Team USA would make alternative plans if need be, but added, "We're hopeful we're going to get some of these guys back. I would anticipate we would."

The final of the inaugural 4 Nations Face-Off between the United States and Canada will be played Thursday night at 8 p.m. ET at TD Garden in Boston.