USA Men's Hockey Team Cruises Past Latvia; Women Continue to Dominate

The U.S. men’s hockey team began its quest for Winter Olympics gold with a convincing 5-1 victory over Latvia on Thursday at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena.

This marked the first Olympic game featuring NHL players in 12 years. After a sluggish start that saw the teams tied 1-1 after the opening period, the Americans found their rhythm and pulled away with a dominant second-period performance that ultimately sealed Latvia’s fate.

With the NHL on a break for the games, the Winter Olympics offer some opportunities for those who enjoy NHL betting.

Dominant Performance

Brock Nelson emerged as the standout performer for Team USA, netting two goals to lead the American offensive attack. The 34-year-old Colorado Avalanche forward became the oldest player on the roster, and broke the 1-1 tie early in the second before adding an insurance goal late in the period.

Nelson’s performance set the tone for what head coach Mike Sullivan hopes will be a long tournament run for the Americans.

The Tkachuk brothers provided an early highlight when Matthew set up Brady for the opening goal at 5:29 of the first period. Brady rifled a wrist shot from the top of the right faceoff circle past Latvian netminder Elvis Merzlikins for an early lead.

Two potential American goals were disallowed after video review in the opening period, one for offside and another for goaltender interference.

The second period proved to be the turning point. Tage Thompson extended the lead with a power-play goal, capitalizing on the man advantage. The U.S. converted two of three power-play opportunities on the night.

The Hughes brothers, Jack and Quinn, each recorded two assists and were instrumental in distributing the puck throughout the lineup. Their vision and playmaking ability consistently created scoring chances and kept Latvia’s defense on its heels.

Auston Matthews capped the scoring with a third-period power-play goal at the 2:34 mark. Matthews unleashed a shot from the slot after receiving a perfect pass from Jack Eichel, showcasing the offensive firepower that makes this American roster one of the most talented in Olympic history.

Connor Hellebuyck was solid in net for the Americans, making 17 saves to secure the victory. The Americans outshot Latvia 38-18, demonstrating their dominance once they settled into the game.

Saturday’s Schedule & Betting Odds

The Americans return to action Saturday at 3:10 p.m. ET when they face Denmark in their second Group C preliminary round game.

According to FanDuel, the United States enters as overwhelming favorites with a moneyline of -2800. The puck line has Team USA favored by 3.5 goals, reflecting oddsmakers’ expectations of another comfortable American victory.

Denmark presents an intriguing challenge despite the lopsided odds. The Danish team shocked the hockey world at the 2025 IIHF World Championships by defeating Canada.

The Danes feature NHL talent including forwards Nikolaj Ehlers and Oliver Bjorkstrand, along with goaltenders Frederik Andersen and Mads Sogaard.

However, a lack of NHL experience on defense represents a significant vulnerability. The over/under for Saturday’s contest is set at 6.5 goals.

Team USA’s third preliminary game comes Sunday at 3:10 p.m. ET against Germany, which presents the Americans’ toughest group-stage test. Germany features elite NHL talent in Leon Draisaitl and Tim Stutzle, giving the squad some offensive firepower capable of challenging any opponent. The Germans opened their tournament with a victory over Denmark.

USA Women’s Hockey: Dominant Display Continues

While the men launched their Olympic campaign, the USA women’s hockey team has already advanced to the quarterfinals after an unprecedented preliminary round performance.

The American women completed group play with a perfect 4-0 record, outscoring opponents 20-1 while recording three consecutive 5-0 shutout victories.

The defining moment came with a historic 5-0 demolition of rival Canada, marking the first time in Olympic women’s hockey history that Canada failed to score. The victory secured the top seed in the knockout round.

Caroline Harvey leads the tournament with seven points, while Alex Carpenter has scored in all four preliminary games, demonstrating the offensive depth that makes this American squad nearly unstoppable.

Goaltender Aerin Frankel has been exceptional, posting a save percentage above 95 percent and allowing just two goals through four games.

Women’s Quarterfinal: USA vs. Italy

The USA women’s team faces Italy on Friday at 3:10 p.m. ET in a quarterfinal matchup that could be a mismatch. The U.S. is listed at -20000 on the moneyline, one of the most lopsided prices in Olympic hockey history. The puck line has USA favored by 6.5 to 7.5 goals.

The winner advances to Monday’s semifinals, where the competition intensifies considerably. Canada, hopes to advance past Germany for a rematch of the group-stage demolition.