The United States hit the ice Sunday for its third and final group stage game at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina 2026, taking on Germany with first place in Group C on the line. The Americans entered the matchup sitting atop the group with a 1-0-0 record and riding the momentum of a win over Denmark in their second game of the tournament. With back-to-back victories already secured, Team USA had an opportunity not only to extend its winning streak but to officially lock up the top spot in the group and punch its ticket to the quarterfinals. Germany came into the contest in third place in Group C with a 1-1-0 record. After opening the tournament with a win, the Germans were coming off a loss to Latvia and were looking to steady themselves before the knockout round. A victory over the United States would have dramatically shifted the standings and strengthened their own path to the quarterfinals. Instead, they faced an American team that had been one of the most dominant forces of the group stage.
The game’s physical tone was established early. Just two minutes in, Germany’s Lukas Kalble was called for hooking, giving the United States an early power-play opportunity. Although the Americans were unable to capitalize at that moment, they continued to apply pressure throughout the opening frame. With just nine seconds remaining in the first period, the breakthrough finally came. Zach Werenski fired home the opening goal, assisted by Austin Matthews.
Zach Werenski sent the United States into the intermission with a 1-0 lead and firm control of the pace.
The second period began with special teams action once again. Just 50 seconds in, Jack Eichel was called for hooking, but Germany failed to convert on the man advantage. Shortly after the penalty expired, Kai Wissmann was whistled for interference, handing the momentum right back to the Americans. This time, the United States made it count. On the power play, Austin Matthews found the back of the net, finishing a setup from Quinn Hughes and Matthew Tkachuk to extend the lead to 2-0.
Midway through the period, Zach Werenski was called for slashing, but once again Germany’s power play came up empty. The Americans continued to dictate play at even strength, and with just under three minutes left in the second period, Brock Faber added to the cushion. His goal, assisted by Matthew Tkachuk and Brady Tkachuk, pushed the lead to 3-0.
Through two periods, the United States had controlled both ends of the ice, combining disciplined defense with relentless offensive pressure.
The third period only widened the gap. Just one minute in, Tage Thompson scored to make it 4-0, finishing a play set up by Dylan Larkin and Jake Sanderson.
Six minutes later, the Americans struck again. Austin Matthews netted his second goal of the game, assisted by Jake Sanderson and Noah Hanifin, giving the United States a commanding 5-0 lead.
Germany managed to break through with under nine minutes remaining when Tim Stützle scored, assisted by John Peterka, spoiling what had been a shutout bid. Later, with under five minutes left, Matthew Tkachuk was called for unsportsmanlike conduct, but the outcome was no longer in doubt. The final score stood at 5-1 in favor of the United States.
Statistically, the Americans backed up their dominance. They outshot Germany 37-24 and controlled the majority of possession. Connor Hellebuyck turned aside 23 of 24 shots for a 95% save percentage, while Germany’s Maximilian Franzreb stopped 32 of 37 shots for an 86% save percentage. On special teams, the United States finished 1-for-2 on the power play, while Germany went 0-for-3.
With the victory, the United States officially won Group C, securing a quarterfinal berth and finishing a perfect 3-0-0 in group play. Not only did they win all three games, but they scored five or more goals in each contest. A clear statement of offensive firepower and overall balance. Through the group stage, Team USA has looked every bit like a gold medal contender, combining depth scoring, elite goaltending, and strong defensive structure.
Next up: the quarterfinals. The United States will face the winner of the Sweden vs. Latvia playoff game. The quarterfinal matchup is scheduled for Wednesday, February 18th, 2026, at 12:10 PM, where the Americans will look to continue their dominant Olympic run and take the next step toward a medal.
Zac Electrifly 
Leave a comment