MILAN — Brock Nelson scored two goals as the United States delivered a commanding 5-1 victory over Latvia on February 12, showcasing some of the top NHL talent in the Olympic ice hockey tournament. Despite Latvia equalizing early after two Nelson goals were overturned on coach’s challenges, the Americans regained control and limited their opponents’ opportunities throughout much of the game.
The U.S. outshot Latvia 38-18, with goalie Connor Hellebuyck stepping up to stop 17 shots efficiently. Latvia’s goalie Elvis Merzlikins faced relentless pressure, especially during a fluid offensive play late in the second period where a series of quick passes culminated in Nelson tapping the puck into a mostly empty net with just 11.1 seconds remaining before the break.
Key Contributions Fuel American Offense
Less than six minutes into the game, Brady Tkachuk opened the scoring for the U.S., setting the tone early. Tage Thompson increased the lead with an impressive backhand goal on a power play, validating head coach Mike Sullivan’s decision to position the 6-foot-6 winger on the top scoring unit. The combined efforts of four players each recording two assists—including Quinn Hughes, Jack Hughes, Matthew Tkachuk, and Jack Eichel—helped keep the U.S. attack sharp and eventually led to Merzlikins being pulled in favor of backup Arturs Silovs.
Captain Auston Matthews marked Silovs’ Olympic debut by scoring a power-play goal with assists from Jack Eichel and Quinn Hughes, showcasing the team’s depth and cohesive play. The next challenges for the U.S. will come against Denmark on February 14 and Germany on February 15, rounding out the preliminary stage.
Canada Also Impresses in Olympic Return with Clean Sweep of Czechia
Canada delivered a strong performance as NHL players returned to the Olympics, beating Czechia 5-0 in a game marked by solid team play. Macklin Celebrini, Canada’s youngest player at just 19, scored the first goal in the final seconds of the opening period after deflecting a Cale Makar shot. Goalie Jordan Binnington was flawless throughout the match, stopping all 26 shots he faced.
Mark Stone and Bo Horvat added goals to secure the win, while Canadian captain Sidney Crosby commented on the team’s efforts:
“Our intentions were really good with the way we played,”
Sidney Crosby said.
“I thought we were physical. We were moving our feet. The execution, sometimes that comes with time. But even other times we did some good things and executed well. Just a matter of building off of that.”
Coach Jon Cooper highlighted the team’s progression in the game, responding to early jitters faced by players competing in their first Olympics:
“When you’re playing in the Olympics for the first time, it never gets old, and everybody’s got their jitters,”
Jon Cooper said.
“You know what I liked? I thought we got better as that game went on.”
Exceptional Goaltending and Veteran Leadership on Display
While Binnington’s goaltending was critical in maintaining a shutout, Czech goalie Lukas Dostal faced an overwhelming offensive onslaught he could not contain, conceding five goals, including a slick power-play goal created by the trio of Crosby, Connor McDavid, and Nathan MacKinnon. MacKinnon, who finished with three assists, reflected humbly on his role in one of those plays:
“Two of the best players ever to play passing it to me is cool,”
Nathan MacKinnon remarked.
“I didn’t do much for that one. Just blessed to be on the back side. Anyone would have put that in.”
This significant goal mirrored a similar successful combination demonstrated during the prior year’s 4 Nations Face-Off, where Canada edged out the U.S. in overtime. Nick Suzuki capped the scoring with a late goal assisted by McDavid, sealing a dominant Canadian performance.
Switzerland Outplays France Behind Timo Meier’s Two Goals
In another Olympic contest, Switzerland posted a 4-0 victory over France, fueled by two third-period goals from New Jersey Devils forward Timo Meier. Switzerland’s experienced goaltender Leonardo Genoni delivered an outstanding game, stopping all 27 shots he faced, underpinning the nation’s strong defensive effort.
France initially led through Damien Riat’s quick goal just 55 seconds after the opening faceoff and extended their lead with an early tally by J.J. Moser of the Tampa Bay Lightning. Despite forcing 43 shots compared to Switzerland’s 27, France was unable to convert further, falling victim to Switzerland’s efficient offense and defensive resilience.
Moser spoke about the importance of their early scoring momentum:
“It helps you a lot if you score two in the first, whatever it was, five minutes,”
J.J. Moser explained.
“It just gives you a little bit more comfort, more confidence also for the rest of the game.”
Meier characterized the team’s collective execution as a mature performance that effectively closed out the game in their favor.
Upcoming Challenges and Expectations
The U.S. team, led by Brock Nelson and supported by a strong NHL roster including Auston Matthews and Jack Hughes, has set the tone for what could be a deep Olympic run. With upcoming games against Denmark and Germany, each contest will test the team’s stamina and tactical adjustments. Canada and Switzerland’s decisive victories also signal a highly competitive field as the Olympic tournament continues to unfold.
These early performances highlight the intensity and quality of competition in Milan, underscoring the elevated stakes and fervent ambition driving all participants at the Winter Olympics.
