USA men's hockey finishes preliminary round 3-0 after beating Germany
- - USA men's hockey finishes preliminary round 3-0 after beating Germany
Helene St. James, Detroit Free PressFebruary 16, 2026 at 4:31 AM
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USA men's hockey finishes preliminary round 3-0 after beating Germany
MILAN - USA men's hockey put an exclamation point on a successful preliminary round with a third consecutive victory at the 2026 Winter Olympics.
The 5-1 final against Germany on Sunday, Feb. 15 at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena left the Americans atop Group C standings, earning a bye into Wednesday's quarterfinals.
The Americans added the victory over the Germans 24 hours after downing the Danes, 6-3, and three days after taking out Latvia, 5-1, in the opener. USA and Canada each finished with nine points, but Canada's better goal differential earned the No. 1 seed going into the quarterfinals, with the U.S. finishing second.
USA will play the winner of Tuesday's qualification game between Sweden and Latvia.
Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on Feb. 15, 2026 in Milan, Italy.
" style=padding-bottom:56%>Quinn Hughes #43 of Team United States skates with the puck against Parker Tuomie #62 of Team Germany in the first period during the Men's Preliminary Group C match between the United States and Germany on day nine of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on Feb. 15, 2026 in Milan, Italy.
" data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/e7dnWBu4fh7YxivPBCkBkA--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04Mjg-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/86be303ad93d17f5ab236fa1d3e546f4 class=caas-img data-headline="Team USA seeks perfect start against Germany in Olympic Men's hockey" data-caption="
Quinn Hughes #43 of Team United States skates with the puck against Parker Tuomie #62 of Team Germany in the first period during the Men's Preliminary Group C match between the United States and Germany on day nine of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on Feb. 15, 2026 in Milan, Italy.
">Quinn Hughes #43 of Team United States skates with the puck against Parker Tuomie #62 of Team Germany in the first period during the Men's Preliminary Group C match between the United States and Germany on day nine of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on Feb. 15, 2026 in Milan, Italy.
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1 / 5Team USA seeks perfect start against Germany in Olympic Men's hockey
Quinn Hughes #43 of Team United States skates with the puck against Parker Tuomie #62 of Team Germany in the first period during the Men's Preliminary Group C match between the United States and Germany on day nine of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on Feb. 15, 2026 in Milan, Italy.
More: USA rallies past Denmark to improve to 2-0 in Olympics men’s hockey
The Germans never really gave USA much of a battle, despite having one of the best players in the world in the lineup in Leon Draisaitl. Matthew Tkachuk chirped the German captain and member of the Edmonton Oilers during the game, saying, "Always a bridesmaid, never a bride." The two have a rivalry dating to Tkachuk's days with the Calgary Flames, heightened as Tkachuk, now with the Florida Panthers, has twice beaten Draisaitl's Oilers in the Stanley Cup Final.
The Americans, meanwhile, steamrolled up the aisle to say I do to 3-0.
Zach Werenski put the Americans on the board with 8.7 seconds left, picking a corner of Germany's net with a shot from the right circle off a pass from Auston Matthews. The Germans went with Maximilian Franzreb in goal over NHLer Phillip Grubauer, just like the Danes went with Mads Sogaard over NHL regular Frederik Andersen.
Connor Hellebuyck saw nine shots in the first period. Not even a man advantage could generate momentum for the Germans, who barely had possession of the puck while Jack Eichel was in the box. Instead the Americans converted during a power play early in the second period. Matthews was in front of the crease, in position to poke in a shot to make it 2-0. Brock Faber added to the score with a shot from along the boards near the midpoint of the game.
Tage Thompson's shot from the blue line put USA up 4-0 early in the third period, with Dylan Larkin picking up an assist. Jake Sanderson took a shot that Matthews redirected just outside the crease, giving him two goals and an assist on the night.
Tim Stützle ruined Hellebuyck's bid for a shutout with a goal midway through the third period.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: USA perfect in men's hockey preliminary round after beating Germany
Source: “AOL Sports”
