Team USA Rides Second-Period Surge, Trocheck Delivers Again in 6-3 Win Over Denmark
Vincent Trocheck is quietly becoming Team USA’s clutch setup man in Milan. For the second straight game, the New York Rangers center delivered a key assist on a game-winning goal - this time springing defenseman Noah Hanifin with a slick backhand feed through the neutral zone. Hanifin, who plays his NHL hockey with the Vegas Golden Knights, did the rest, ripping a shot from the left circle past Denmark’s Mads Sogaard to give the Americans a 4-2 lead late in the second period.
It was a pivotal moment in a game that started with more questions than answers for the U.S., but ended in a convincing 6-3 victory - their second straight at the Winter Olympics.
Trocheck had also assisted on Brock Nelson’s game-winner in the team’s tournament-opening 5-1 win over Latvia. While he didn’t register a shot on goal in 9:29 of ice time Saturday, his fingerprints were all over the game - especially on special teams.
Alongside Rangers teammate J.T. Miller, Trocheck helped kill off all three Danish power plays.
Through two games, the Americans are a perfect 5-for-5 on the penalty kill, a stat that’s flying under the radar but could loom large as the tournament tightens.
Miller logged 13:08 of ice time, had one shot, and finished minus-1, but his impact was felt in the dirty areas - particularly when Denmark tried to claw back momentum.
The U.S. now heads into a crucial round-robin finale against Germany on Sunday. With Latvia pulling off a shocker over the Germans earlier Saturday, the stakes are clear: a regulation win for Germany gives them the Group C title. But Team USA can punch its ticket straight to the quarterfinals with a win or even an overtime/shootout loss.
Slow Start, Strong Finish
This one didn’t start the way the Americans drew it up. Denmark - a team that stunned Canada at last year’s IIHF World Championship - came out fearless. Just 1:40 in, a defensive breakdown led to a deflected goal off Zach Werenski’s skate, and the Danes were on the board first.
But the U.S. answered quickly. Quinn Hughes hit Matt Boldy with a gorgeous stretch pass that led to a highlight-reel goal.
Boldy sped down the left wing, circled the net, and tucked the puck inside the post before Sogaard could recover. It was a high-skill response that showed just how dangerous this American team can be in transition.
Still, Denmark struck again midway through the first - this time from center ice. Nicholas B.
Jensen launched a shot from just over the red line that somehow found its way past Jeremy Swayman. The puck appeared to get lost against the dark backdrop behind the benches, and Swayman never saw it.
Just like that, the U.S. trailed 2-1 after one.
Second Period Surge
Then came the second-period avalanche.
Jack Eichel got things rolling by winning a faceoff in the left circle and feeding Brady Tkachuk, who wasted no time ripping a shot past Sogaard to tie it at 2-2. Less than a minute later, Eichel struck again - this time collecting a loose puck off a scrambled draw and snapping a quick shot into the net to give the U.S. its first lead of the game.
Hanifin’s goal made it 4-2, capping a dominant stretch where the Americans tilted the ice and took over the game. Denmark did sneak one more past Swayman - a late-period blast from Phillip Bruggisser that came with heavy traffic in front - but that was the last time they’d beat the U.S. netminder.
Closing the Door
The third period belonged to Team USA.
Jake Guentzel extended the lead off a beautiful feed from Auston Matthews, showcasing the kind of offensive chemistry that makes this American roster so dangerous. Then Jack Hughes added the exclamation point, sealing the 6-3 win and sending the U.S. into Sunday’s group-stage finale with momentum and confidence.
“We didn’t love our start,” Matthews said postgame. “But it’s not about how you start - it’s about how you finish.”
The Americans finished strong. And if they can clean up the early lapses, this team has the tools - and the depth - to make a serious run in Milan.
Other Olympic Notes
Elsewhere in Olympic action, Rangers center Mika Zibanejad chipped in an assist for Sweden in their 5-3 win over Slovakia. But it wasn’t enough to secure a bye - the Swedes lost a three-way tie atop Group B on goal differential, with Slovakia taking the top spot.
Back to Team USA, the numbers tell a clear story: 14 different players recorded points in the win over Denmark, and the Americans outshot their opponents 47-21. That kind of balanced scoring and sustained offensive pressure is exactly what you want to see this early in the tournament.
Next up: Germany. A chance to lock in a quarterfinal spot. And if Trocheck keeps setting the table the way he has, don’t be surprised if Team USA keeps finding the back of the net when it matters most.