MILAN — Sweden is getting closer to the United States, and it seems they’ll face one of the top teams in the tournament in a crucial elimination match sooner than anticipated.
On a positive note from Sunday, Team USA had a stellar performance, overpowering Germany 5-1 with a level of control they previously lacked against Latvia and Denmark.
This victory secured first place in Group C for the Americans, allowing them to advance directly to the quarterfinals. Sweden, having a rough time in the group stage, must first beat Latvia in a play-in game. The U.S. will take on the winner on Wednesday.
As for the brackets, well, it’s something American fans can’t really influence, and they’re not exactly ideal.
Still, the victory against a solid German team marked a significant improvement.
Auston Matthews, in particular, showcased his best performance yet in a Team USA uniform during high-stakes competition. He, along with Matt Boldy and Jake Guentzel, was on the ice for almost every shift. Matthews set up Zach Werenski just seconds before the first period ended and scored himself later off a Matthew Tkachuk power play. He added another goal from a Jake Sanderson shot, sealing the night’s fifth goal.
Matthews is a standout; there’s no doubt about that. His contributions have sparked conversations among fans regarding his role as captain.
Of course, he did have a slightly embarrassing slip early in the game that led to a minor mishap. But he quickly silenced any critics.
2026 Winter Olympics
This match was definitely a step forward for a defense that had appeared shaky in previous games. Werenski and Jake Sanderson both recorded two assists. A notable moment came when German goalie Maximilian Franzlev went off his line, allowing Brock Faber to find the net with a soft shot, making it 3-0. Jakob Slavin played with his usual composure, and the penalty kill was effective against Germany’s top players.
Connor Hellebuyck returning to goal is a relief, and unless he faces an injury, he’s likely here to stay for the tournament.
Germany isn’t a walkover, and neither are any of the teams the U.S. will encounter moving forward.
Unfortunately, they didn’t get the perfect goaltending performance that would’ve kept a shutout intact. Stützle broke that momentum late in the game, making the score 5-1.
Clayton Keller, stepping in for Kyle Connor, had a memorable Olympic debut when Dylan Larkin and Tage Thompson executed a great play, resulting in a 4-0 score. This was a nice turnaround for Rhyne, who had been relatively quiet until now.
The first and fourth lines remained consistent throughout the qualifiers, finding their rhythm.
It wasn’t flawless—far from it, actually. The team still has a way to go, especially when facing Canada, who seem unbeatable with each match.
They never quite reached that same pace and connection, even if things felt a little easier yesterday.
That said, Team USA is looking reminiscent of the team that faced Canada last year, right down to Brady Tkachuk passing to Parker Tuomey along the half wall.
I mean, whether it’s against Sweden or anyone else, the U.S. is gearing up to make a statement.
