american men

The American goal song, “Free Bird” by Lynyrd Skynyrd, played seven times over the stadium’s speakers Thursday night. On two occasions the celebration was short-lived.

Recovering from a pair of goals disallowed by the coach’s challenges, the USA opened the olympic games by outscoring Latvia 5-1 in a dominant display from some of the country’s best NHL players. Brock Nelson scored twice, four players each had two assists and there was production throughout the lineup.

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

After a strange first period with a couple of video reviews and a Latvian tying goal, the Americans found their rhythm and for long periods barely let their opponents have the puck. The United States outshot Latvia 38-18 and needed starter Connor Hellebuyck to make just 17 saves.

“I felt like we controlled the play,” center Jack Eichel said. “We’re going to continue to improve in every game of this tournament, in every period of 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 box with his head bent over his lap. An odd-man rush turned into a version of the Harlem Globetrotters on the ice with pass after pass: Jack Hughes to his 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 didn’t score, the other guy would probably score because I felt like they were two wide open guys, and it’s hard to save something like that.”

Brady Tkachuk scored the first American goal of the tournament in less than six minutes, and Tage Thompson scored a slick putback on the power play, making coach Mike Sullivan look smart by putting the 6-foot-6 winger on the loaded top unit. Four goals on 32 shots were 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 by Eichel and Quinn Hughes. They each had two assists, along with Matthew Tkachuk and Jack Hughes.

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

Speaking to News themezone 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, the rink is pretty nice. I’m sure as the tournament goes on, the ice will get better. When you’re out there, size isn’t too big of a difference.”

And when asked by News themezone about the NHL’s season break during the Olympics and whether he thinks Olympic hockey is better, Thompson responded: “I think it’s the best of the best, you know, I think anytime you take the best hockey players and have them represent their country, there’s another level of pride that comes when you wear your colors. And obviously, the intensity goes up.”

United States plays against Denmark on Saturday night before concluding the preliminary round 24 hours later against Germany.