Team USA Overcomes Early Scare, Rolls Past Denmark to Stay Perfect in Olympic Play
Team USA came into its second game of the 2026 Winter Olympics riding high after a dominant 5-1 win over Latvia. Jack Hughes lit up the opener, showcasing the kind of speed, vision, and puck control that makes him one of the most exciting players on the planet. Head coach Mike Sullivan’s squad looked sharp early in the tournament, but with the Olympic format offering little room for error, every game is a chance to sharpen chemistry and build momentum.
Denmark, unlike Latvia, came in with a bit more bite. They’ve got six NHL players on their roster, including Carolina Hurricanes winger Nikolaj Ehlers, and they weren’t just here to skate laps. The Americans, meanwhile, gave Jeremy Swayman the start in net after Connor Hellebuyck handled duties in Game 1.
With the top team in each group earning a direct ticket to the quarterfinals, there was no easing into this one. But Denmark made things interesting early - and not in the way Team USA would’ve liked.
In a surprising move, Denmark rested their usual starter, Frederik Andersen, and rolled with backup Mads Søgaard. It looked like a gamble, but it paid off early as Søgaard kept things steady while his teammates took advantage of some shaky American goaltending.
Swayman struggled out of the gate, and Denmark pounced. The low point came when Nicklas B. Jensen fired in a long-range shot from just inside the red line - the kind of goal that makes coaches reach for the whiteboard - giving Denmark a 2-1 lead after the first period.
But if there’s one thing this American roster isn’t short on, it’s firepower. And in the second period, that firepower kicked in.
Brady Tkachuk and Jack Eichel struck just 57 seconds apart, flipping the game and flipping the script. Suddenly, Team USA was back in control - faster, more physical, and playing with the kind of swagger you expect from a team with gold-medal aspirations.
From there, the floodgates opened.
Noah Hanifin and Jake Guentzel added goals, and Jack Hughes - yes, the same Jack Hughes who looked like he was playing on turbo mode in Game 1 - added another to his Olympic tally. When you’ve got a player of Hughes’ caliber skating on your fourth line, it’s a luxury few teams in this tournament can match.
This is a roster built not just to win, but to dominate - and to set up the heavyweight showdown the hockey world is waiting for: USA vs. Canada.
Of course, there’s still work to be done before that potential clash becomes reality. Finland, Sweden, and a feisty Slovakia squad all loom as legitimate threats. But if Team USA keeps rolling like this, they’ll be tough to slow down.
Vincent Trocheck chipped in with an assist, giving him two points through two games. The Rangers center continues to provide solid two-way play and veteran leadership, a key component in these short, high-stakes tournaments.
The final score - 6-3 - doesn’t quite tell the full story. If not for Swayman’s early struggles, this one could’ve been wrapped up by the halfway mark. His performance likely means Hellebuyck will be the go-to guy the rest of the way, barring injury.
Next up: a date with Leon Draisaitl and Team Germany. A win - whether in regulation or overtime - locks up the top seed in the group and a direct path to the quarterfinals.
Team USA knows what’s at stake. The margin for error is thin, and the medal rounds are just around the corner. But if they keep playing like this - fast, physical, and fearless - they’ll be right where they want to be when the real fun begins.