Team USA scratches Kyle Connor for final vs. Canada

Team USA scratched Winnipeg Jets sniper Kyle Connor for Thursday night's 4 Nations Face-Off final against Canada.

Connor leads all U.S.-born skaters with 30 goals in 56 games this season, but he was limited to one assist and one shot on goal in three games in the tournament.

New York Rangers forward Chris Kreider remained in the lineup in Connor's absence. He was a healthy scratch for Team USA's first two games but scored the Americans' only goal Monday in their 2-1 loss to Sweden when Auston Matthews and Matthew Tkachuk were sidelined.

Kreider started Thursday's game on Team USA's fourth line with Vincent Trocheck and Brock Nelson.

The United States won the first matchup against Canada 3-1 on Saturday.