Kraken teammates help U.S. reach world hockey final

Seattle Kraken forward Matty Beniers assisted Kraken teammate Michael Eyssimont for a goal in Team USA’s 6-2 semifinal win over Sweden at the International Ice Hockey Federation world championships Saturday in Stockholm.

Late in the second period, Beniers raced up the ice on a 4-on-2 rush and sent a left-to-right pass to Eyssimont, who fired it past Sweden’s goaltender to extend the Americans’ lead to 4-0. Sweden closed the gap to 4-2 in the third, but Team USA pulled away to advance to Sunday’s gold medal game against Switzerland.

By reaching the final, Team USA clinched its best result at the world championships since earning a silver medal in 1950. The last time the Americans won gold at the worlds was in 1933. Team USA also was formally awarded world titles in 1960 and 1980 when it won the Olympic tournaments and the worlds did not take place.

Sunday’s gold medal game is a rematch of Switzerland’s 3-0 win over the U.S. in the group stage of the 16-nation tournament. That was the Americans’ only loss in nine games at this year’s event.

Matty Beniers 🤝 Michael Eyssimont #MensWorlds #IIHF @usahockey pic.twitter.com/0Mx9aMMNWo

— IIHF (@IIHFHockey) May 24, 2025

Beniers has totaled three goals and three assists at the tournament. Eyssimont has one goal and two assists.

Kraken goalie Joey Daccord also is on Team USA. He has stopped 68 of 74 shots over the nine games, while playing about one-third of the team’s minutes.

Beniers, drafted by the Kraken with the No. 2 overall pick in 2021, is coming off his third full NHL season. The 22-year-old center had 20 goals and 23 assists in 82 games for Seattle this past year.

The Kraken acquired Eyssimont from the Tampa Bay Lightning in a three-team trade on March 5. Seattle is the 28-year-old center’s fourth team over his four-year NHL career.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this story.

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