Team USA Opens Olympic Campaign with Statement Win Over Latvia
If you were wondering whether Team USA could match the firepower Canada flashed earlier in the day, you got your answer-and then some. The Americans didn’t just show up, they showed out, cruising to a 5-1 win over Latvia to close out Day 2 of the men’s Olympic hockey tournament.
It wasn’t quite the clinic Canada put on against the Czech Republic, but it was close. And more importantly, it kept the U.S. firmly in the conversation among the tournament’s elite, right alongside Canada and Sweden atop their respective groups.
With only four automatic spots in the quarterfinals up for grabs, every goal, every shift, and every save matters. And the Americans made theirs count.
A Quirky Start, Then Total Control
The opening period had a bit of everything-except goals that counted. Two U.S. tallies were waved off, but the Americans didn’t flinch. Instead, they regrouped, recalibrated, and came out with purpose in the final 40 minutes.
From that point on, it was all red, white, and blue. The U.S. dictated pace, controlled the puck, and found the back of the net with clinical precision. Latvia, while gritty and organized early, simply couldn’t match the Americans’ depth or tempo as the game wore on.
This is a U.S. team built to wear opponents down, and that’s exactly what they did.
Eyeing the Top Seed
With the win, the U.S. keeps pace with Canada and Sweden in the race for the tournament’s top four seeds-each of which guarantees a direct ticket to the quarterfinals. Everyone else will have to survive a single-elimination round just to get there.
Right now, Canada holds a razor-thin edge in goal differential-plus-5 to the U.S.’s plus-4-but that’s hardly insurmountable. One big game could flip that script in a hurry.
Canada may have a marginally smoother road the rest of the way, having already dispatched the strongest team in their group. The U.S., meanwhile, still has to face Denmark, a squad that dropped its opener to Germany, 3-1. That matchup comes Saturday, giving the Americans a brief breather before the push continues.
Gold Medal Forecast: Neck and Neck
Two days in, and the numbers reflect what the eyes already see-this is shaping up to be a two-horse race. According to tournament projections, Canada holds a 43% chance to win gold, with the U.S. right behind at 38%. Their semifinal chances are nearly identical as well, with Canada at 86% and the U.S. at 84%.
In other words, we’re barreling toward a showdown. The bracket will have its say, but if things hold, a Canada-U.S. clash feels less like a possibility and more like a certainty.
Goalie Watch: Oettinger the Odd Man Out
One subplot worth tracking: the U.S. goaltending rotation. On Thursday, it was Connor Hellebuyck getting the nod between the pipes, with Jeremy Swayman dressed as the backup. That left Jake Oettinger as a healthy scratch-a notable decision given his stature with the Dallas Stars.
Swayman’s experience at the World Championships, something GM Bill Guerin has cited as a key factor in roster decisions, likely gives him the edge in the early going. For now, Oettinger appears to be the third man in the rotation. Not ideal for Stars fans hoping to see their guy shine on the Olympic stage, but maybe not the worst thing either, considering the NHL grind resumes soon after the Games.
The Road Ahead
With every team now having played at least once, the picture is beginning to sharpen. And at the top of the frame, the U.S. and Canada are staring directly at each other.
The Americans showed Thursday they’re every bit the contender they were billed to be. The offense is clicking, the defense is sound, and the goaltending-no matter who’s in net-is holding strong.
There’s still work to do, but if this opening statement is any indication, Team USA isn’t just chasing gold-they’re ready to take it.