The USA team opened up the Olympics with a bang. They came out flying with a 5-1 win over Latvia, a dominant showing that put their skill on full display. Whether it was the Tkachuk brothers (Brady and Matthew), the Hughes brothers (Jack and Quinn), or any of the forward lines, the USA overwhelmed their opponent and will probably do the same to many teams in the coming days.
Related: Unlike 2006, Team USA Start With A Bang
Without question, the Americans have the skill to dominate. Even without Cole Caufield, Jason Robertson, and the other talented snubs from the roster, the USA can overwhelm anyone in their group. It’s the next phase of the Olympics that will be key and where they must show that they are a complete team.
The USA Has Skill to Win a Medal
The game against Latvia put the USA’s skill on full display. There was never a doubt that they would win the game, even when two goals were overturned by Latvian challenges to keep it tied in the first period.
This team has skill throughout the lineup, and it’s exciting to sit back and watch. The Americans can make those highlight plays to set up goals and often take over games by themselves. The Tage Thompson goal is a prime example as he found himself with an open look on a power play and elevated the puck into the goal.
If the Americans want, they can make every game a high-scoring one and dominate against most nations. They’ll make it out of the group on scoring alone. Better yet, they can probably win their first knockout game on skill alone.
USA Must Defend if They Want Gold
In the big picture, the USA squad will run into Canada or another top nation; whether it’s an improved Sweden or a sneaky Slovakia is anyone’s guess. It’s those matchups where skill alone won’t cut it. The Four Nations Final game still burns in the American memory, where on the biggest stage, the defense mattered most.
The defensive unit will get this team over the hump. The USA blue line played well against Latvia, with several players also adding a playmaking presence at the blue line but it didn’t stand out. It must if they want to win in the end, especially as the tournament progresses and speed declines while the games tighten up.
The group stage is the trial-and-error period, where the best nations can figure things out for the end of the Olympics. The latest game didn’t give the USA many errors but the next two might, and it’s where they’ll notice that a complete effort is needed to win it all.
Where That Defense Will Come From?
The USA must get elite play out of Connor Hellebuyck. He looked great in the first game, even though he wasn’t asked to be the hero. There will be a game where he will be asked to be one, and it’s questionable whether he can deliver. Hellebuyck’s playoff woes still stand out, and until proven otherwise, that doubt will always be there.
The defensive unit is a strength as well. It’s what can shut down the best offenses in the Olympics, and it’s the group to watch as things progress. Specifically, the Brock Faber, Jaccob Slavin, and Zach Werenski trio playing at a high level can separate the USA from the rest.
On top of all of that, the forwards must step up defensively. The USA general manager (GM), Bill Guerin, made the bet on the defensive forwards when building the team, taking Brock Nelson, JT Miller, and Vincent Trocheck over Caufield or Robertson. That bet will determine if the Americans win Gold, especially if those forwards can step up in all facets of the game.
