Team USA sits at 2-0 in Group C after beating Latvia 5-1 and Denmark 6-3. The Americans face Germany Sunday to close out round-robin play.
A win would secure one of the top two seeds heading into the elimination rounds.
The gold medal co-favorite is in good position based on results alone. But the wins over Latvia and Denmark weren’t particularly impressive. Canada has looked dominant and deep in its first two games. Team USA has been just alright.
“We’re an unfinished product,” center Jack Eichel told reporters Saturday.
Forward Lines Show Promise and Problems
The forward group tells the story of Team USA’s early tournament play.
The first line of Eichel between Brady Tkachuk and Matthew Tkachuk has been outstanding. The trio has run an offensive zone faceoff play three times already. Eichel wins the draw back to Brady, who gets a clean shot because Matthew sets a pick.
The set play led to Matthew hitting the post against Latvia. Brady scored off it versus Denmark. Defenseman Zach Werenski almost scored Saturday using the same setup.
Eichel also scored shortly after another O-zone faceoff Saturday. His four points and 10 shots both lead the team.
Jack Hughes, Tage Thompson, and Brock Nelson have been standouts up front. Hughes has been dangerous off the rush, streaking down the flanks with high-level creativity. He’s recorded two primary assists and buried a goal-line bank shot off a Danish goalie’s skate.
Second-liners Auston Matthews, Jake Guentzel, and Matt Boldy have had moments but underwhelmed overall.
J.T. Miller and Vincent Trocheck have struggled at five-on-five due to lack of foot speed. Kyle Connor hasn’t recorded a shot in 21 total minutes.
Head coach Mike Sullivan hasn’t made notable changes to forward combinations despite obvious struggles. Hughes and Nelson could be promoted to the top six. Winger Clayton Keller remains a healthy scratch but could replace Miller.
Goaltending Shuffle Coming
Connor Hellebuyck played well in the opener against Latvia.
Jeremy Swayman imploded against Denmark. He allowed a harmless shot from center ice off the stick of a stay-at-home defenseman. He gave up another soft goal off a point shot.
Sullivan can’t dress Swayman again after that performance.
Jake Oettinger waits as the third-stringer. He’s not a downgrade from Swayman and could provide a spark.
Goaltending remains a strength for Team USA. Swayman’s mistakes showed that anything can happen to any goalie at any time.
Hughes and Werenski Dominate
Quinn Hughes missed the 4 Nations Face-Off due to injury. The Olympics mark his first best-on-best international competition.
The 26-year-old has been brilliant in a team-high 22:17 per game.
Hughes has controlled possession more than anyone in both games. His perfect passes to Eichel through the neutral zone have been magic to watch.
The U.S. can deploy Hughes and Werenski on back-to-back shifts. Both dictate game flow with elite mobility, offensive instincts, and shooting from the blue line.
Sullivan should lean on them heavily moving forward.
Special Teams Excel
General manager Bill Guerin filled the bottom of the roster with players who contribute in specific areas. Special teams was a priority.
Team USA is the only nation with perfect penalty killing (six for six). The power play has scored twice in five opportunities for a 40% rate that ties Canada for best in the tournament.
The first power play unit runs through Hughes and Eichel. Matthew Tkachuk handles playmaking around the net. Right-handed Thompson and left-handed Matthews serve as the shooters.
Canada’s top unit features Connor McDavid, Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar, Sidney Crosby, and Sam Reinhart.
Team USA’s diverse group might be just as dangerous.
