US men’s hockey opens Olympic slate by rolling over Latvia

MILAN — It appeared like a little bit of a nervy begin for the US. Latvia gained two video overview challenges to erase a pair of targets, the US hit two posts, and the sport was tied after 20 minutes.

And when the youngest participant within the event, 18-year-old defenseman Alberts Smits, stunned Auston Matthews halfway by means of the second interval, it was clear Latvia was right here to play.

Charlie McAvoy mentioned nobody on the bench was involved.

“That is the Olympics,” he mentioned after the US stopped Latvia’s surge in its tracks, taking a 5-1 win. “That is tight. Italy and Sweden had been tied for 40 minutes yesterday. So we all know higher than to underestimate our opponents.”

The Tkachuk brothers, Jack Eichel (two assists), the Hughes brothers (two assists every) and Brock Nelson (two targets) made the most important impacts for the People, who allowed 9 pictures over the ultimate two durations.

“They had been nice. The vitality on the bench is terrific,” coach Mike Sullivan mentioned. “‘We’re going to be high-quality.’ And, in fact, we had been.”

Latvia’s video coach, Peteris Groms, was its MVP. After Brady Tkachuk buried a feed from Matthew (two assists) 5 minutes in, Quinn Hughes appeared like he doubled the lead. After a profitable offside problem, Latvia tied it when Renars Krastenbergs deposited a unfastened puck within the slot.

When Nelson tipped house some extent shot, Latvia gained a decent one, officers ruling that Miller was responsible of goalie interference. It was a reminder that the IIHF normal for that’s zero-tolerance.

However Nelson deked previous netminder Elvis Merzlikins and pointed to the objective — that one counted — and the People took over.

“I imply simply an unbelievable expertise. I attempt to soak all of it in,” mentioned Nelson, the Avalanche heart who turned the fifth member of his prolonged household to don the USA sweater. That lineage consists of his grandfather, 1960 gold medalist Invoice Christian, and uncle Dave Christian, the previous Bruin who performed on the Miracle on Ice staff.

Tage Thompson, left off the 4 Nations roster, doubled the lead once more. Then, 4 People one-touched the puck when Nelson scored his second.

“I don’t assume there’s a lot to do,” mentioned Merzlikins, who was lifted after two durations. “If that man wouldn’t rating, in all probability the opposite man would rating as a result of I felt fully two open guys and it’s exhausting to avoid wasting one thing like that.”

Merzlikins stopped 28 of 32 pictures earlier than ceding to Arturs Silovs. The latter allowed a Matthews power-play objective that made it 5-1.

The US faces Denmark on Saturday and Germany on Sunday. No phrase if Jeremy Swayman, who dressed as Connor Hellebuyck’s backup over Jake Oettinger, will take a type of begins.

Sullivan mentioned Swayman bought the decision as a result of he has had a “actually robust begin to the season … not that Jake hasn’t.”

Celebrini celebrates fabulous debut for Canada

The Czech followers confirmed up in drive. They had been bouncing in place earlier than puck drop and chanting Český! throughout play.

They hung their nation’s flag throughout Santagiulia Area, with names of cities, cities and villages written within the white discipline of their nationwide banner: Krnov, Osík, Horka nad Moravou, and so forth.

Somebody from Havířov, that coal-mining northeastern metropolis close to the Polish border, was carrying a hat that mentioned “Boston” in script.

She was Marcela Ziembová, David Pastrnak’s mother. Sporting nails painted with the Czech and Olympic colours, she was there to look at her son, and his gold-palmed gloves, make his debut on the Video games.

Canada muted the intense colours of Pastrnak’s sport, closing on him shortly in a 5-0 win over the Czechs. Their celebrity was buzzing early, touchdown a few hits and making a number of harmful passes, however was held scoreless and was on the ice for 2 targets in opposition to.

He skated 18:05, the second-highest complete amongst Czech forwards, 90 seconds of that on Czechia’s solely energy play. He didn’t cease to speak to reporters afterward.

The Czechs had been sport (outshot, 36-26), however issues had been firmly in Canada’s management shortly after Connor McDavid and Nathan MacKinnon every landed massive hits on their opening shifts. A deflection objective from ex-Boston College star Macklin Celebrini — at 19 the youngest participant chosen by Canada since NHLers arrived on the Video games in 1998 — bought the scoring began.

Brad Marchand performed lower than 10 minutes however recorded a main help in his Olympic debut, feeding a streaking Bo Horvat within the second interval.

The ice high quality should have been OK, contemplating the saucer passes from McDavid and Mitch Marner that landed flat on teammates’ sticks for Canadian targets. MacKinnon tapped in a power-play objective for a 4-0 lead, assisted by McDavid and Sidney Crosby.

“Yeah, it’s enjoyable,” MacKinnon mentioned. “Two of the most effective gamers ever to play passing it to me is cool, you realize?”

Timo Meier powers Swiss over French

Devils ahead Timo Meier scored twice within the third interval, 39-year-old nationwide staff goaltender Leonardo Genoni stopped all 27 pictures he confronted, and Switzerland shut out France, 4-0.

Damien Riat scored 55 seconds in, J.J. Moser of the Lightning made it a two-goal lead three minutes in, and there wasn’t a lot for the Swiss to fret about the remainder of the way in which, outshooting the French, 43-27.

“It helps you a large number for those who rating two within the first, no matter it was, 5 minutes,” Moser mentioned. “It simply provides you a bit of bit extra consolation, extra confidence additionally for the remainder of the sport.”

Within the day’s ultimate sport, Philipp Grubauer stopped 37 of the 38 pictures he confronted and Senators star ahead Tim Stützle scored two targets as Germany beat Denmark, 3-1.

Oilers celebrity Leon Draisaitl scored simply 23 seconds into his Olympic debut for the victors.

Materials from the Related Press was used on this report.