Grades, questions from Team USA’s Olympic hockey win vs. Latvia

Crew USA has received its opening recreation within the 2026 Olympic males’s ice hockey event, upending Latvia by a closing rating of 5-1.

The competition was not with out some drama, as the primary interval included two profitable coach’s challenges from Latvia that wiped U.S. objectives off the board.

After that, nevertheless, the ice appeared to tilt the People’ means, and objectives from Tage Thompson, Auston Matthews and a pair from Brock Nelson have been the distinction.

Here is what we realized within the opener, together with an general staff grade and large inquiries to ponder previous to Crew USA’s matchup in opposition to Denmark on Saturday.

Takeaway 1: Who did it higher, the Hugheses or the Tkachuks?

There are specific gamers each staff should depend on if it will win. Crew USA is not any totally different, and that is what makes the Hughes and Tkachuk brothers relatively essential.

Let’s begin with the Hughes brothers. Quinn is perhaps an important participant on the roster. He is a top-pairing defenseman who might be trusted in each scenario. That was on show in opposition to Latvia, as he completed with a team-high 21:29 in ice time and registered two assists. Jack opened the sport on the fourth line and in addition completed with a pair of assists.

What concerning the Tkachuks? Physicality was a theme Thursday, and the Tkachuks are on the coronary heart of why it was an element. However there’s a lot extra to their respective video games than being bruising energy forwards. It is why they have been on the highest line alongside Jack Eichel, which created a mix that used dimension, velocity and talent to current quite a few points all through the sport for Latvia. Brady scored the sport’s opening purpose, and Matthew added a pair of assists.

Takeaway 2: Does coach Mike Sullivan have a call to make about his strains?

We’ll broaden on Brock Nelson’s particular person exploits right here shortly, however his contributions confirmed how the U.S. acquired fairly a bit from its fourth line. Nelson anchored the road that includes Jack Hughes and J.T. Miller and had two objectives (and will have had extra).

The youthful Hughes brother had a pair of assists, however Miller’s contributions are a bit extra sophisticated. Miller arrange Quinn Hughes for a first-period purpose that was one of many two that have been disallowed. He was additionally on the internet entrance for what grew to become a second disallowed purpose that was referred to as again for goaltender interference. Miller had essentially the most ice time of the trio, with a little bit greater than 12 minutes, whereas his linemates every completed with barely greater than 11 minutes.

Will we see some adjustments within the video games in opposition to Denmark and Germany, or will Sullivan follow what labored?

The whole lot arising BROCK. NELSON. #WinterOlympics pic.twitter.com/yy7xGkXiR0

— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) February 12, 2026

Takeaway 3: The fatigue issue

One of many underlying themes from the 4 Nations Face-Off was the tempo, particularly within the closing recreation between Canada and the U.S.

That tempo was an element within the first 4 minutes of this recreation, as a part of an method that noticed the U.S. put on down Latvia in quite a few methods. Combining that velocity with physicality and puck possession ultimately made Latvia go from a staff that tied the sport at 1-1 to a staff that struggled to only sustain for the ultimate 40 minutes. There have been the penalties. There have been the objectives that got here from these penalties. There have been these lengthy shifts that allowed the U.S. to dictate play in a means that helped it rating 4 unanswered objectives.

Can the U.S. try this in opposition to different groups? It is potential in opposition to the opposite nations with a mixture of NHLers and non-NHLers, however what we noticed from the Canadians on Thursday signifies that they might have the ability to sustain.

Participant of the sport: Brock Nelson, middle

There have been the 2 objectives he scored. There have been additionally the 2 objectives he virtually scored: one off the submit, and one disallowed for goalie interference.

Both means, Nelson had essentially the most memorable and arguably strongest efficiency of any Crew USA participant.

Naturally, the dialog round Nelson’s recreation goes to focus on his purpose contribution. However there’s additionally some extent to be made about how was all the time in place and used his 6-foot-4 body to create openings in what was a bodily recreation in opposition to Latvia.

Will the U.S. rating much more objectives in opposition to Denmark?

Being the 2 gold medal favorites is why there’s going to be one eye on Crew USA and one other on Canada all through this preliminary spherical.

Canada struck first with a dominant 5-0 win over Czechia, shifting the main target to the U.S. in its matchup in a while Thursday. The reply was a 5-1 win.

Now it is about seeing if Crew USA can carry that over into its subsequent recreation Saturday in opposition to Denmark. The Danes have been enjoying similtaneously the U.S. and misplaced 3-1 to Germany, regardless of the very fact they completed with 38 pictures.

Total staff grade: A-

The one blemish for Crew USA in its opening recreation was the lone purpose it allowed due to a net-front scramble. Past that, the People managed each side of their opening recreation.

These disallowed objectives together with Latvia’s game-tying purpose created a little bit of a tenuous begin. However the 4 unanswered objectives — and the way the U.S. flexed its talent and power — made it too exhausting for Latvia to search out a gap.