The US men’s hockey team cruises to a 5-1 win over Latvia in their first game at the 2026 Winter Olympics

The US goal song — Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Free Bird” — blasted seven times over the stadium speakers Thursday night. Twice, this celebration was short-lived.

Coming back from having two goals cleared by the coach’s challenges, the US opened up the Olympics beating Latvia 5-1 in an outstanding showcase of the country’s best NHL players. Brock Nelson scored twice, four players had two assists apiece, and there was production up and down the lineup.

“We believe in the depth we have,” said winger Jake Guentzel. “There are good players on every line. That’s where American hockey is right now.”

After a strange first period with a few video reviews and a binding goal for Latvia, the Americans found their core and for a long time did not allow their opponents to have the puck. The US outshot Latvia 38-18 and needed starter Connor Hellebuyck to make just 17 saves.

“I felt like we controlled the game,” center Jack Eichel said. “We will continue to get better every game in this tournament, every time in this tournament. That is our goal, and it is a good start for us.”

Elvis Merzlikins was under siege at the other end, and after Nelson’s second goal he sat in the crease with his head in his lap. The odd-man rush was the Harlem Globetrotters’ version of the ice with pass after pass: Jack Hughes to his brother Quinn to Matthew Tkachuk, back to Jack and then to Nelson for an open net 11.1 seconds into the second period.

“I don’t think there’s much left to do,” Merzlikins said. “If that guy wasn’t going to score, maybe another guy was going to score because I felt two guys were open, and it’s hard to keep something like that.”

Brady Tkachuk scored the US’s first goal of the tournament less than six minutes into the game, and Tage Thompson hit a nifty backhander on the power play, making coach Mike Sullivan look smart for putting the 6-foot-6 winger on a loaded top unit. Four goals on 32 shots was enough to chase down Merzlikins, who was pulled to start Arturs Silovs’ third.

Captain Auston Matthews welcomed Silovs to the Olympics with a power play goal, assisted by Eichel and Quinn Hughes. They each had two assists, along with Matthew Tkachuk and Jack Hughes.

“I just think the depth we have, it showed,” Brady Tkachuk said. “I thought everybody played a good game tonight. You just see the buy-in. You see the buy-in of every line play the right way.”

Speaking to CBS News after the game, Jack Hughes noted that the small ice rink used in the Winter Olympics was not a big problem.

“Talking about it before, you think it would be a big deal,” Jack Hughes said. “You know, so, the rink is pretty good. I’m sure as the tournament goes on, the ice will get better. When you’re outside, the size isn’t that big of a difference.”

And when asked by CBS News about the suspension of the NHL in the middle of the season during the Olympics, and whether he believes that Olympic hockey is better, Thompson replied: “I just think it’s the best of the best, you know, I think that any time you take all the best hockey players and you have them represent their country, there comes another level of pride when you wear your colors. And obviously, the height rises.”

The US plays Denmark on Saturday night before wrapping up the first round 24 hours later against Germany.