Five takeaways from conclusion of 4 Nations Face-Off round robin

Team Sweden (1-0-2-0, 5 points) defeated Team USA (2-0-0-1, 6 points) 2-1 in the final game of the NHL's inaugural 4 Nations Face-Off round robin.

USA will rematch Team Canada (1-1-0-1, 5 points) in Thursday's championship game.

USA won the round-robin.

Canada tied with Team Sweden on points but held the tiebreaker.

Team Finland (0-1-0-2, 2 points) finished last in the round robin.

Here are five takeaways from the conclusion of round-robin play.

Nathan MacKinnon: The last thing we wanted to do was go home, today or tomorrow or whatever...Wed love to play [the US] again.

We feel like we can beat those guys.

We plan on playing a little better Thursday.

This was the look on 29s face when they sat down.

pic.twitter.com/XmAWwVBMlr 1.

The NHL gets its ultimate wish two entries in the USA-Canada rivalry.

It doesn't really matter how they got there it was always going to be about trying to get two games between Team USA and Team Canada.

In a tournament that felt designed to reward the tougher, harder style of North American hockey, this was always at the top of the NHL's wish list.

The first game between these nations in the round robin, a 3-1 USA win on a Saturday night in prime time, peaked at more than five million viewers making it the most watched non-Stanley Cup hockey telecast in nearly six years.

After THREE unanswered by Finland, Sidney Crosby scores his first of the #4Nations Face-Off on the empty net pic.twitter.com/oKVd276P2q 2.

The second guessing has begun.

The tournament's championship hasn't been played, but questions about roster builds are emerging.

Team USA's unique blend of skill, grit and size in international best-on-best play using NHL rules rather than IIHF rules may change how future teams are built.

It also means that future editions of 4 Nations Face-Off will hold a unique place against less physical international hockey tournaments.

On the ice, Canada has arguably assembled the most talented forward group with a smattering of grit down the lineup.

Do they have enough to counter the Americans? Should Canada have brought Tom Wilson? Pierre McGuire and Jeff Marek discussed the construction of Team Canada and what the Capitals forward would have brought to the table in an NHL style tournament...

#ALLCAPS #thesheet pic.twitter.com/i9lEvCQdHL 3.

Injuries are the one thing that could derail the long-term viability of this tournament they're mounting.

It's a story worth monitoring just who is going to play Thursday? Team USA was down to 10 forwards while already playing without Matthew Tkachuk in their loss to Sweden.

NHL GMs are mostly former players.

They understand the pride players have in wearing their nation's colors.

Many also understand the uniqueness of this particular tournament due to its place as the NHL's return to best-on-best hockey.

When this tournament is no longer a novelty, will the injuries that piled up cause friction with NHL front offices? Brady Tkachuk has not returned for USA for the second period.

Theyre down to 16 skaters to close out the round robin against Sweden.

The Bash Brothers are banged up.

4.

The flu is now a major storyline.

The flu has made its way through the 4 Nations Face-Off teams.

Canada missed Cale Makar for two games of the round robin.

Sweden lost goaltender Filip Gustavsson mid-game against Finland and were without Mika Zibanejad and Rickard Rakell on Monday.

This could have a significant impact on Thursday's championship in Boston.

We'll all be waiting with baited breath to see if illness continues to work its way through the locker rooms.

Its fun to watch for sure, even for me as a hockey fan.

@sportsnetkyle catches up with David Pastrnak at the Sweden vs.

USA #4Nations game.

pic.twitter.com/DZhNL8qYNl 5.

Now that two teams are eliminated, what's next? You'll hear an occasional note on what constitutes "true" best-on-best international hockey.

The 2016 World Cup of Hockey featured a few odd gimmicks that often result in an asterisk being placed next to it when the term best-on-best is discussed.

Likewise, there are questions about whether or not this tournament is a true best-on-best.

This tournament is missing one of the best players in the world in German-born Leon Draisaitl.

The German team didn't have enough active NHL players to make up a full roster.

In the future, could certain requirements change? FINAL Sweden 2, USA 1 Each country in the #4Nations tournament get at least one win! NHL players resume practicing Tuesday with their teams.

Twenty-eight teams will resume game action Saturday, Feb.

22.

Alex Wiederspiel is a digital reporter, play-by-play broadcaster, radio show host and podcast host in West Virginia covering high school athletics, Division II college athletics, and some West Virginia University athletics.

He's an avid follower of all things hockey and football with a soft spot for prospects -- the future stars of the league.

When not consuming sports, Alex is usually doing something related to Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, or watching movies for his movie podcast, The Movie Spiel.

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