Since being left off Team Sweden for the 4 Nations Face-off, Pittsburgh Penguins forward Rickard Rakell is the country's hottest scorer.

On Dec. 4, Team Sweden announced their lineup for the 4 Nations Face-off in February, with one glaring omission: Pittsburgh Penguins forward Rickard Rakell. 

At the time of the announcement, Rakell had the fourth-most goals (10) among Swedish-born players, behind William Nylander, Adrian Kempe, and Jesper Bratt. 

Although his 16 points ranked 13th, Rakell was a top-10 player for Sweden in several other categories, such as shots (62), ice time among forwards (18:33), even strength goals (nine), and even strength points (13).

Since Dec. 5, Rakell has been on fire, leading all Swedish-born players with eight points in six games. Here's a breakdown of his statistics and rank among his fellow countrymen:

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Considering the 4 Nations Face-off is still two months away, there could be an opportunity for Rakell to represent Sweden. However, it would only come if someone else is injured. 

Even though Rakell not cracking the Sweden lineup is their loss, the Penguins and their fans continue to appreciate the 31-year-old's hot streak. The club has been 9-7-3 since the roster announcements, and he's tied with Bryan Rust, the team's leading scorer, with eight points.