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It wasn’t pretty at first, but the US hockey team picked up the pace and showed why they are favorites to play for a gold medal.
After trailing 2-1 in the first half, the Americans dominated the offense to earn a 6-3 victory over Denmark on Saturday at the Milan Cortina Olympic Games.
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, was not going to go down without a fight and scored a third goal past Jeremy Swayman (Boston Bruins) before the horn sounded.
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Brady Tkachuk of the United States, right, celebrates after scoring his team’s second goal during a men’s ice hockey preliminary round game against Denmark at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy, Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
It was a 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 had 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 right, celebrates after scoring his team’s third goal during a men’s ice hockey preliminary round game 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 when Denmark’s second goal was scored almost from center ice, but found his footing in the final two periods. Connor Hellebuyck (Winnipeg Jets) started in the first game, and Jake Oettinger (Dallas Stars) will likely be in the area in their next game.
The Americans took 47 shots on goal compared to Denmark’s 21.
The United States finishes preliminary play on Sunday with a match against Germany at 3:10 p.m. ET. The Americans will once again be big favorites and a victory would put them in the knockout phase.
The Americans can also go directly to the knockout stage if they lose in overtime. With a regulation loss, their fate would be determined by Canada’s match against France and the point differences with Slovakia, Finland and Sweden.
Brady Tkachuk of the United States, right, challenges Denmark’s Oliver Bjorkstrand during a men’s ice hockey preliminary round game at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy, Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
But as a heavy favorite against a German team with only eight NHL players, the United States may not have to worry.
