USA vs Latvia in Men's Hockey: From the Tkachuk Brothers to Hughes and Nelson Helped USA Have the First Victory 5-1

It was the first time that the NHL Players returned to the Winter Olympics since 2014. With Team USA having a young group of players, it was time for a new generation of young NHL Players to shine their moment on the ice.

First Period

The game got off to a competitive start in Milan, with both teams trading chances early on. Team USA struck first at the 5:29 mark when Brady Tkachuk buried a goal assisted by his brother Matthew Tkachuk and Zach Werenski, putting the Americans up 1-0. 10 Latvia responded quickly, tying it up at 7:25 on a goal from Renars Krastenbergs, assisted by Zemgus Girgensons. 10 The period wasn’t without drama—USA had two potential goals waved off after successful challenges by Latvia: one by Tage Thompson around the 6-minute mark for offside, and another by Brock Nelson at 11:35 due to goalie interference involving Vincent Trocheck. 10 There was a penalty late in the frame to Latvia’s Krastenbergs at 15:52 for two minutes, giving USA a power play, but they couldn’t capitalize—Jack Eichel even hit the post during it. 10 Shots favored USA 15-9, but it ended tied 1-1, showing Latvia’s resilience against the NHL-heavy squad.

Second Period

This is where USA really took control, dominating play and pulling away. They outshot Latvia a whopping 17-2, turning the game into a rout with three unanswered goals. 10 Brock Nelson opened the scoring at 10:38 (30:38 game time), assisted by Jack Hughes and Vincent Trocheck, to make it 2-1. 10 Then, on a power play after Latvia’s Roberts Mamcics took a two-minute penalty at 16:54 elapsed (36:54 game time), Tage Thompson roofed a backhander at 17:35, assisted by Jack Eichel and Quinn Hughes, pushing the lead to 3-1. 10 Nelson added his second of the night at 19:48, with assists from Jack Hughes and Matthew Tkachuk, making it 4-1 heading into the third. 10 There was also a USA penalty to Jake Guentzel at 0:40 elapsed (20:40 game time), but Latvia couldn’t generate much. Key moments included some big saves by Latvia’s Elvis Merzlikins on Guentzel and Jaccob Slavin, plus a collision in front of the net involving Brady Tkachuk and Latvia’s Janis Jaks. 10 USA’s puck possession and pressure were overwhelming here.

Third Period

With the game pretty much in hand, USA added one more for good measure while Latvia swapped goalies, bringing in Arturs Silovs to replace Merzlikins. 10 Captain Auston Matthews scored on the power play at 2:35 (42:35 game time), assisted by Jack Eichel and Quinn Hughes, after Latvia’s Kaspars Daugavins took a two-minute penalty at 1:28 elapsed (41:28 game time)—that made it 5-1. 10 The period saw more penalties: USA’s Dylan Larkin at 9:11 elapsed (49:11 game time) for two minutes, and then a flurry at 16:38 (56:38 game time) where Latvia’s Eduards Tralmaks and USA’s Brock Faber each got two minutes (Faber actually drew two separate minors). 10 Shots were closer at 6-7 for Latvia, but no more scoring as USA coasted to the win. Overall, it was a strong statement game for the Americans in their Olympic return with NHL pros.