USA comes back from early deficit to dominate Denmark in Olympics
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It wasn’t pretty at first, but the USA hockey team stepped up and showed why they were the favorites to play for the gold medal.
Trailing 2-1 in the first period, the Americans dominated the attack and defeated Denmark 6-3 at the Milan Cortina Olympic Games on Saturday.
4 Nations cult hero Brady Tkachuk (Ottawa Senators), Jack Eichel (Vegas Golden Knights) and Noah Hanifin (Vegas Golden Knights) found the back of the net as the Americans scored three unanswered goals to open the second period.
But Denmark wouldn’t go down the field without a fight, scoring the third goal past Jeremy Swayman (Boston Bruins) before the horn sounded.
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Brady Tkachuk (R) of the United States celebrates after scoring his team’s second goal in the men’s ice hockey qualifying match against Denmark at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy, on Saturday, February 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
But it was a false hope for them as Jake Guentzel (Tampa Bay Lighting) scored and Jack Hughes (New Jersey Devils) added another goal for good measure late in the third quarter.
Both sets of brothers on the team (Brady and Matthew Tkachuk and Jack and Quinn Hughes) each had a point in the contest. Each time the light came on, fourteen players scored a different scorer for the Americans.
American Jack Eichel, second from right, celebrates after scoring his team’s third goal in a men’s ice hockey qualifying match against Denmark at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy, on Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
AFTER ITALIAN RAILWAYS WERE STRIKEED DUE TO SUSPICIOUS ‘SABOTAMENT’, AMERICANS PARTICIPATING IN THE OLYMPICS WERE ASKED TO ‘BE CAREFUL’
Swayman struggled early on, especially as Denmark’s second goal was scored off center ice, but he 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 on the field in their next game.
The Americans had 47 shots on goal, while Denmark had 21.
The USA will conclude its qualifying match with a match against Germany on Sunday at 15:10. The Americans will once again be heavy favorites and victory will take them to the knockout stage.
The Americans could also advance directly to the knockout stage with an overtime loss. With the defeat in regulation, their fate will be determined by Canada’s match against France and their point differential with Slovakia, Finland and Sweden.
Brady Tkachuk (R) of the United States challenges Oliver Bjorkstrand of Denmark during the 2026 Winter Olympics men’s ice hockey qualifying match in Milan, Italy, on Saturday, February 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
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But the United States, which is a heavy favorite against a German team with only eight NHL players, may not have to worry.
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