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It wasn’t pretty at first, but the U.S. hockey team picked up the pace and showed why they are one of the favorites to play for a gold medal.
After leading 2-1 in the first period, the Americans dominated on offense to earn a 6-3 victory over Denmark on Saturday at the Milan Cortina Olympics.
The Americans scored three unanswered goals to open the second period, with 4 Nations cult hero Brady Tkachuk (Ottawa Senators), Jack Eichel (Vegas Golden Knights) and Noah Hanifin (Vegas Golden Knights) finding the back of the net.
Denmark, however, did not go out without a fight, scoring a third goal past Jeremy Swayman (Boston Bruins) before the horn sounded.
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Brady Tkachuk, right, of the United States, celebrates after scoring his team’s second goal in a men’s ice hockey preliminary match against Denmark at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy, Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
It was false hope for them, however, as Jake Guentzel (Tampa Bay Lighting) scored and Jack Hughes (New Jersey Devils) added another for good measure late in the third.
Both sets of brothers on the team – Brady and Matthew Tkachuk and Jack and Quinn Hughes – each scored a point in the contest. Fourteen players scored points for the Americans with a different scorer each time the lamp was lit.
Jack Eichel of the United States, second from right, celebrates after scoring his team’s third goal in a men’s ice hockey preliminary match against Denmark at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy, Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
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Swayman struggled early, especially since Denmark’s second goal was scored near center ice, but he found his footing over the final two periods. Connor Hellebuyck (Winnipeg Jets) got the start in Game 1, and Jake Oettinger (Dallas Stars) will likely be in the crease in their next game.
The Americans managed 47 shots on goal, compared to 21 for Denmark.
The United States finishes the preliminaries on Sunday with a match against Germany at 3:10 p.m. ET. The Americans will once again be the big favorites and a victory will place them in the round of 16.
The Americans can also advance directly to the round of 16 in the event of a defeat in overtime. In the event of a defeat in regulation time, their fate would be determined by Canada’s match against France and by the points gap with Slovakia, Finland and Sweden.
Brady Tkachuk of the United States, right, challenges Oliver Bjorkstrand of Denmark in a men’s ice hockey preliminary match at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy, Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
But as heavy favorites against a German team with just eight NHL players, the United States may have nothing to worry about.
