Team USA Cruises Past Germany, Clinches Group C Behind Lockdown PK and Matthews’ Firepower
Team USA wrapped up a perfect preliminary round at the 2026 Winter Olympics with a 5-1 win over Germany on Sunday, and while the scoreboard leaned heavily in the Americans' favor, it was the gritty, detail-oriented work - especially on the penalty kill - that set the tone.
No, J.T. Miller and Vincent Trocheck didn’t light up the scoresheet in this one.
But don’t let that fool you - their fingerprints were all over this win. The New York Rangers forwards anchored the top penalty-killing unit for head coach Mike Sullivan, helping the U.S. shut down all three of Germany’s power plays.
That performance pushed the Americans to a perfect 9-for-9 on the PK through three games - the only team in the tournament yet to allow a power-play goal.
That’s not just a stat - that’s a statement.
Germany brought some serious firepower to the table, with NHL stars Leon Draisaitl, Tim Stützle, and Moritz Seider headlining their man-advantage unit. But every time they hit the ice with the extra skater, Miller and Trocheck were there, disrupting passing lanes, blocking shots, and forcing hurried decisions.
One of the standout moments came late in the third period when Miller laid out for a shot block during the final penalty kill. It earned him a round of stick taps from the bench - the kind of blue-collar play that doesn’t show up in the box score but wins over teammates and coaches alike.
Earlier in the game, Miller also delivered a pinpoint stretch pass to spring Jack Eichel for a breakaway at the end of the first penalty kill. Eichel was denied by German goalie Maximilian Franzreb, but the play underscored Miller’s vision and ability to flip the ice in an instant.
With the win, the U.S. locked up a 3-0-0 record in Group C and clinched the No. 2 seed heading into the quarterfinals. Only Canada - also a perfect 3-0-0 with a staggering +17 goal differential - finished ahead of them.
Miller logged 12:37 of ice time and finished even with one shot on goal. Trocheck had a quieter night statistically, playing 9:12 - the lowest among American skaters - but his impact on faceoffs and the penalty kill remained steady.
Through three games, Trocheck has two assists (both on game-winners), a +2 rating, and ranks third among all Olympic skaters with a 66.7% faceoff win rate (18-for-27). Miller, meanwhile, has yet to register a point and is one of four American skaters still looking to break onto the scoresheet.
Quarterfinals on Deck
With the group stage in the books, the Americans now await the winner of Tuesday’s qualification game between Sweden and Latvia. If Sweden advances, it’ll set up a Rangers reunion in the quarterfinals, with Miller and Trocheck facing off against teammate Mika Zibanejad.
The quarterfinals are scheduled for Wednesday, with puck drop at 3:10 p.m. ET (9:10 p.m. local time in Milan). The U.S. will be well-rested and riding a wave of momentum - but from here on out, it’s win or go home.
Matthews Leads the Charge
While the penalty kill stole some of the spotlight, Team USA’s offense came alive in a big way - led once again by captain Auston Matthews. The Toronto Maple Leafs star recorded two goals and an assist, bringing his tournament totals to three goals and five points in three games. He’s been the engine of this American attack, and on Sunday, he showed why.
Matthews’ first point came late in the opening period, when he feathered a saucer pass across the ice to Zach Werenski, who buried a wrister from the left dot with just nine seconds left in the frame. It was a critical momentum-shifter after Eichel had a would-be goal waved off moments earlier due to incidental contact in the crease.
Matthews then got on the board himself early in the second, redirecting a shot from Quinn Hughes on the power play to make it 2-0. He added another deflection goal in the third, again showing off his elite hand-eye coordination in tight spaces.
Brock Faber, the Minnesota Wild defenseman, also had a standout game. He scored USA’s third goal with a high wrister from the point that deflected off Franzreb’s glove and in. Tage Thompson added the fourth goal on a booming slap shot early in the third.
Germany’s lone tally came from Stützle, who sniped one past Jeremy Swayman at 11:22 of the third period. But by then, the outcome was all but sealed.
USA’s Path Forward
Team USA outscored its opponents 16-5 in group play, showing a strong balance between offensive firepower and defensive discipline. But the road ahead gets steeper. Canada looms as the top seed, fresh off a 10-2 dismantling of France, and teams like Finland and Slovakia are proving they can grind out wins in tight games.
“There’s stuff that we need to clean up,” Faber said postgame. “But overall, I thought we got better as the tournament went on, and that’s what it’s all about. Now it gets real.”
That’s the mindset this U.S. squad is taking into the knockout stage. They’ve handled business so far - now comes the true test.
With Matthews leading the charge, the penalty kill locking things down, and depth players like Miller and Trocheck doing the dirty work, Team USA looks like a group built for tournament hockey. The kind that wins when the games get tight and the margins get razor-thin.
Quarterfinals are up next. And the Americans are ready.