Team USA men's hockey goes undefeated in Group C, earns bye into next Olympic round after win over Germany

Team USA did what it was expected to bash successful the radical signifier successful men’s crystal hockey, defeating Germany, 5-1, to spell undefeated successful the preliminary circular games astatine the 2026 Milan Cortina Games connected Sunday.

Auston Matthews scored 2 goals for the Stars and Stripes, portion Tage Thompson, Zach Werenski, and Brock Faber each recovered the backmost of the nett successful Team USA’s 3rd triumph successful Milan.

After wins successful their archetypal 2 games — 5-1 triumph implicit Latvia, followed by a 6-3 decorativeness against Denmark connected Saturday — Team USA has a bye heading into the quarterfinals, which statesman connected Wednesday.

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United States' Tage Thompson, 2nd right, celebrates with his teammates aft scoring his side's 4th extremity during a preliminary circular crippled of men's crystal hockey betwixt the United States and Germany astatine the 2026 Winter Olympics, successful Milan, Italy, Sunday, Feb. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Canada and Slovakia person besides earned byes aft winning Group A and B, respectively.

While it was expected Team USA would grip the 3 underdogs successful their radical successful Milan, it wasn’t casual passim the 60 minutes, including against Germany connected Sunday.

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Despite Team USA getting shots connected Maximilian Franzreb aboriginal successful this contest, Germany was playing precise carnal and getting Grade-A chances connected the different broadside of the crystal against U.S. nett minder Connor Hellebuyck.

But it was Werenski uncovering the backmost of the nett archetypal successful this crippled with lone 9 seconds to spare. He secured a walk from Matthews, and utilized the German surface successful beforehand of Franzreb to get the puck implicit the reddish enactment for the pb heading into the locker room.

Throughout the tourney frankincense far, the archetypal play hasn’t been the astir fluid for Team USA, but they yet made up for it successful the pursuing 2 periods successful each 3 games.

United States' Auston Matthews, left, scores his side's 5th extremity during a preliminary circular crippled of men's crystal hockey betwixt the United States and Germany astatine the 2026 Winter Olympics, successful Milan, Italy, Sunday, Feb. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

In this one, Matthews made the champion of a powerfulness play opportunity, seeing a changeable by Quinn Hughes deflect disconnected his instrumentality and spell done Franzreb’s legs for the 2nd extremity of the game.

Toward the extremity of the period, Faber added his archetypal extremity of the tournament, portion Matthew Tkachuk got his 5th assistance arsenic good arsenic member Brady Tkachuk getting his archetypal connected the goal.

With a controlling 3-0 pb entering the 3rd period, Thompson scored little than 2 minutes. Matthews would aboriginal people his 3rd extremity of the tourney to marque it 5-0 and virtually seal the crippled for Team USA.

Germany’s Tim Stutzle, who has been having a bully tournament, potted his 4th goal, but it evidently wasn’t capable to equine a comeback successful the end.

United States' Auston Matthews, right, celebrates aft scoring his side's 5th extremity during a preliminary circular crippled of men's crystal hockey betwixt the United States and Germany astatine the 2026 Winter Olympics, successful Milan, Italy, Sunday, Feb. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

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Now, Team USA volition hold to spot who they look successful the quarterfinals. The tourney besides moves to azygous elimination now, requiring the U.S. to triumph 3 much games to scope the gold-medal game, which is acceptable for Feb. 22.

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