Men's Olympic Ice Hockey
2026 Olympic
Hockey
Advertisement
live
Updated
Team USA has begun play in the men’s hockey tournament at the 2026 Winter Olympics with a dominant 5-1 win over Latvia.
The Latvians held their own in the first period, getting to intermission tied 1-1 thanks to a pair of successful challenges that disallowed two U.S. goals. But the Americans turned it on from there, scoring a few beautiful goals en route to a comfortable win.
Brock Nelson scored two goals for Team USA, while Brady Tkachuk, Tage Thompson and Matthews each added one. Renars Krastenbergs scored Latvia's lone goal in the first period.
Share your reaction with us at live@theathletic.com.
When Quinn Hughes took a J.T. Miller feed in the slot and snapped off a perfect shot into the upper-right corner of the net, the rout appeared to be on.
The hockey gods — and Latvia’s video coach, Pēteris Groms — had other ideas.
Latvia head coach Harijs Vitolins challenged the play, believing Brock Nelson was offside. The officials agreed, the goal was waved off, and just 26 seconds later, Latvia tied the game 1-1. A Matt Boldy turnover led to a scramble in front of the net, and Renars Krasternbergs — who never got higher than the ECHL’s Wheeling Nailers in North America — swatted in a loose puck. In between the overturned American goal and the Latvian goal, Auston Matthews, the American captain, took an elbow to the face from Dans Locmelis, which went uncalled.
Team USA’s frustration was only beginning, though. Nelson tipped in a Brock Faber shot from the point to give the Americans the lead again. Or so they thought. Vitolins challenged again, this time for goaltender interference. After a lengthy review of Miller’s brushing of Latvian netminder Elvis Merzļikins in the crease, the goal was again overturned, leaving the game tied. Just like that, Miller, one of American general manager Bill Guerin’s more controversial picks, had two assists wiped out in less than five minutes.
Latvia almost responded again seconds later, nearly taking the lead. But Boldy made amends for his gaffe leading to the first goal by saving a goal this time around.
The Americans got back on their toes and started to push the play again, but continued to be stymied. Nelson drilled a shot off the right post during a late power play, and Matthew Tkachuk found the crossbar in the final minute of the period, leaving the Americans to file back into the intermission somehow still tied with Latvia through 20 minutes.
Brock Nelson, on the bubble to make the Olympic team to start the season but having left no doubt by midseason, was in the middle of everything today.
In a nightmarish first period, the Colorado Avalanche center was offside to overturn a Quinn Hughes goal, had a goal of his own overturned when it was determined J.T. Miller interfered with Latvia’s Elvis Merzļikins and later hit the post on a power play for good measure.
But his bad fortunes took a 180 in the second period when Nelson scored two goals to help lift the Americans to victory.
It’s almost fitting that Nelson had his fingerprints all over what was his first career game in the Olympics. He’s got quite the USA Hockey lineage with his uncle, Dave Christian, a member of the 1980 Miracle on Ice and his 88-year-old grandfather, Bill Christian, and great uncle, Roger Christian, members of the 1960 gold medal-winning Olympic team. His great uncle, Gord Christian, won a silver medal with the 1956 U.S. Olympic team.
USA 5, Latvia 1
Saturday
Sunday
All games are taking place at either Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena or Milano Rho Ice Hockey Arena.
Michael Russo and Mark Lazerus bring us instant analysis of Team USA's win, including:
Follow the link below to check out their takeaways.
GO FURTHER
USA gets rolling in men’s hockey, beating up Latvia on Day 2 of Olympic tournament
And perhaps more importantly, here's how the top four across the entire tournament currently looks. The top four teams at the end of the preliminary stage will get byes to the quarterfinals.
(Switzerland ranks behind the top three because they are second within their group.)
So here's how Group C looks after the first day of games:
(Goal difference breaks the ties above.)
Germany beats Denmark 3-1 to open its Olympic men’s hockey tournament. Leon Draisaitl scored the opener just 23 seconds into his Olympic debut. Tim Stützle added two more and Philipp Grubauer made 37 saves for the win.
This was the prettiest of Team USA's five goals (and two disallowed goals) tonight, a beautiful passing move that ended with Brock Nelson firing into an open net.
The horn sounds here at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena. A tricky first period for the U.S. gave way to a dominant second, and ultimately a comfortable win.
P3 1:22 – USA 5, Latvia 1
The U.S. kills off the penalty without allowing a scoring chance of real note.
P3 3:22 – USA 5, Latvia 1
Latvia has a chance to reduce the deficit in the final minutes here. Brady Tkachuk and Eduards Tralmaks take matching cross-checking penalties, but Brock Faber takes exception and cross-checks Tralmaks after the whistle too, earning himself a penalty as well.
Probably the perfect first game for Connor Hellebuyck to get his feet wet at the Olympics. Everyone knows by now that he’s struggled in high-pressure situations. He’s managed 16 saves on 17 shots so far and even though he hasn’t been tested all that much, it’s something that he can build off of.
P3 5:30 – USA 5, Latvia 1
This arena is still 95 percent full despite the game being well out of reach at this point and the clock nearing midnight here in Milan. It's not everyday you get to see a game at the Olympics, even rarer one that includes NHL players. A few "USA" chants ring out.
P3 8:45 – USA 5, Latvia 1
Two shots on goal for Latvia during the power play, plus a few attempts from distance that missed the U.S. net high and wide.
P3 10:49 – USA 5, Latvia 1
A rare shot on goal for Latvia – just the third in the past 29 minutes of game time – is easily kicked aside by Hellebuyck.
They might get some more chances now, though, as Larkin goes to the box for slashing.
P3 12:40 – USA 5, Latvia 1
Nearly a breakaway for Anrī Ravinskis but Jack Hughes gets over quickly and shuts the play down.
P3 14:25 – USA 5, Latvia 1
Don't forget, goal difference will matter to both of these teams. With Canada winning 5-0 earlier today, it could be the difference between the No. 1 and the No. 2 seed for the U.S. And it could play a role in determining Latvia's first opponent in the knockout stage.
Hockey News