Team USA Has Two Goals Wiped Out by Challenges in Olympic Opener, but Minnesota Wild Stars Still Shine
For the first time in 12 years, NHL players are back on Olympic ice, and Minnesota Wild fans have plenty to watch for. Several of the team’s stars and prospects are suiting up for their home countries, and the early action has already delivered a mix of highlights and heartbreak.
On Wednesday, Wild goaltender Filip Gustavsson helped backstop Sweden to a 5-2 win over Italy, while Wild prospect Samuel Hlavaj made a statement of his own. The young netminder turned heads by leading Slovakia to a 4-1 upset over Finland - a result that sent a ripple through the tournament's early rounds.
But Thursday’s spotlight belonged to Team USA, with three Wild players - Brock Faber, Matt Boldy, and Quinn Hughes - making their Olympic debuts in a matchup against Latvia. For Hughes in particular, it looked like a dream start. Then came the challenges.
Hughes' First Olympic Goal Erased by Offside Review
Early in the first period, Hughes appeared to notch his first Olympic goal. The play developed quickly - J.T.
Miller, the New York Rangers forward, found Hughes in the slot with a crisp pass, and Hughes buried it to seemingly give the U.S. a 2-0 lead. But Latvia had other plans.
They challenged the goal for offsides, and after a lengthy review, the officials determined that Brock Nelson had entered the zone ahead of the puck. Despite Miller partially obscuring the key replay angle, the call was overturned. Just like that, Hughes’ Olympic moment was put on hold, and the U.S. lead was trimmed back to 1-0.
Another Goal Wiped Out - This Time for Goaltender Interference
Team USA didn’t let up, and later in the period, it looked like Nelson had made up for the earlier offside with a goal of his own. The puck deflected in, and the Americans celebrated - briefly. Latvia issued another challenge, this time for goaltender interference.
The replay showed Miller again involved in the play, this time making contact with Latvian goalie Elvis Merzlikins while straddling the edge of the crease. The referees ruled there was interference, and the goal was taken off the board.
Two goals. Two challenges. Two disappointments for Team USA.
A Look at Olympic Challenge Rules
For fans wondering how these challenges work in the Olympic format, here’s the breakdown: teams aren’t limited to a set number of challenges. Instead, they can challenge as often as they want - but there’s a catch.
An unsuccessful challenge results in a two-minute minor penalty. If a team continues to challenge and loses again, that penalty doubles to a four-minute double minor.
It’s a high-risk, high-reward system, and Latvia played it perfectly. They challenged twice, got both calls right, and avoided any penalty time. For Team USA, it was a frustrating way to start the tournament - especially considering how effective their offense looked in generating chances.
The Bigger Picture for Team USA and the Wild
Despite the setbacks, there’s plenty to be encouraged about. The Wild’s trio of Faber, Boldy, and Hughes all looked comfortable in their Olympic debuts. Hughes, in particular, showed his trademark poise and offensive instincts from the blue line - even if the scoresheet doesn’t reflect it yet.
As the tournament progresses, those disallowed goals will be a footnote if Team USA can build on the strong play they showed between the whistles. And for Minnesota fans, watching their players thrive on the international stage is a reminder of just how deep and talented this Wild core really is.
The goals didn’t count - but the message was clear: Team USA, and its Wild representatives, came to play.