2023 first-round picks each tally two assists for Swedes in 4-2 loss against hosts

Otto Stenberg and Theo Lindstein will be key contributors if Sweden should compete for a gold medal at the 2025 World Junior Championship.

Two of the St. Louis Blues' first-round picks in 2023 used a Saturday tune-up to get on the front leg in Sweden's  4-2 loss against host Canada in a tune-up match at TD Place in Ottawa on Saturday.

Stenberg, a forward and 23rd pick in 2023, and Lindstein, a defenseman and 29th pick, each had two assists in the game.

They combined to set up a goal by Felix Unger Sorum with 0.3 seconds left in the first period to tie the game 1-1:

They then combined to hook up on a Rasmus Bergqvist goal at 4:31 of the second period to give the Swedes a 2-1 lead:

Stenberg, who is playing on loan with the Malmo Redhawks of the Swedish Hockey League this season, and Lindstein, who is on loan playing for Brynas IF of the SHL this season, each were part of Sweden's run to a gold last season on home soil that fell short, claiming silver when Sweden fell to Blues 2022 first-round pick Jimmy Snuggerud and USA, 6-2, in the gold medal game.

Sweden opens play Thursday at 11 a.m. (CT) when they will play Slovakia, which will feature the third Blues 2023 first-round pick, Dalibor Dvorsky, the 10th overall pick, and Juraj Pekarcik, a third-round pick in 2023.

The Blues will have a franchise-record nine participants in this year's tournament.