U.S. men’s hockey team cruises to 5-1 win over Latvia in their first game of 2026 Winter Olympics

The U.S. goal song — “Free Bird” by Lynyrd Skynyrd — blared seven times over arena speakers on Thursday night. Twice, the celebration was only short-lived. 

Bouncing back from having a pair of goals wiped out by coach’s challenges, the U.S. opened the Olympics by rolling past Latvia 5-1 in a dominant showcase of some of the country’s best NHL players. Brock Nelson scored twice, four players had two assists apiece, and there was production up and down the lineup.

“We believe in the depth we have,” winger Jake Guentzel said. “There’s good players on every line. That’s just where American hockey is right now.”

After a weird first period with a couple of video reviews and a tying goal by Latvia, the Americans found their groove and for long stretches barely let their opponents have the puck. The U.S. outshot Latvia 38-18 and needed starter Connor Hellebuyck to make only 17 saves. 

“I felt like we controlled the play,” center Jack Eichel said. “We’re going to continue to get better every game in this tournament, every period in this tournament. That’s our goal, and it’s a good start for us.”

Elvis Merzlikins was under siege at the other end, and after Nelson’s second goal he sat in the crease with his head bowed in his lap. An odd-man rush became a version of the Harlem Globetrotters on ice with pass after pass: Jack Hughes to brother Quinn to Matthew Tkachuk, back to Jack and then to Nelson to tap into a half-open net with 11.1 seconds left in the second period.

“I don’t think there’s much to do,” Merzlikins said. “If that guy wouldn’t score, probably the other guy would score because I felt completely two open guys, and it’s hard to save something like that.”

Brady Tkachuk scored the first U.S. goal of the tournament less than six minutes in, and Tage Thompson roofed a nifty backhander on the power play, making coach Mike Sullivan look smart for putting the 6-foot-6 winger on the loaded top unit. Four goals on 32 shots was enough to chase Merzlikins, who was pulled to start the third for Arturs Silovs.

Captain Auston Matthews welcomed Silovs to the Olympics with a power-play goal, assisted on by Eichel and Quinn Hughes. Each of them had two assists, along with Matthew Tkachuk and Jack Hughes.

“I just think the depth that we have, it showed,” Brady Tkachuk said. “I thought everybody played a great game tonight. You just see the buy-in. You see the buy-in of every line playing the right way.”

Speaking to CBS News after the game, Jack Hughes noted that the smaller ice rink used in the Winter Olympics has not been a major issue.

“Talking about it beforehand, you think it would be a much bigger deal,” Jack Hughes said. “You know, so, the rink’s pretty nice. I’m sure as the tournament gets along, the ice will get better. When you’re out there, the size isn’t too big of a difference.”  

And asked by CBS News about the NHL’s in-season pause during the Olympics, and whether he believes Olympic hockey is better, Thompson responded: “I just think it’s best on best, you know, I think any time you’re taking all the best hockey players and having them represent their country, there comes another level of pride when you wear your colors. And obviously, the intensity gets heightened.”  

The U.S. plays Denmark on Saturday night before wrapping up the preliminary round 24 hours later against Germany.