GAME DAY | U.S. Men To Battle Germany In Final Prelim Game at Olympics
MILAN — The U. S. men’s ice hockey team closes out Group C play Sunday evening at Santaguilia Ice Arena, with puck drop set for 3: 10 p. m. ET. A single point will secure first place for the Americans and a direct ticket to the quarterfinals; anything less could leave them exposed to the qualification round.
What’s at stake
This is simple on the surface: a win in regulation, an overtime win or an overtime loss all guarantee Team USA the top spot in Group C and a bye into the quarterfinals, which begin on Wednesday, Feb. 18. If the U. S. loses in regulation, the group outcome will hinge on the result of Latvia vs. Denmark and potentially goal differential. For Germany to overtake the Americans outright with a regulation win, Latvia must also beat Denmark in regulation and Germany would need to defeat the U. S. by more than two goals in some scenarios. The margin for error is small; one point changes the path to the knockout rounds significantly.
Matchups and keys to the game
Goaltending figures to be decisive. Connor Hellebuyck is expected to get the start for the U. S. after making 17 saves on 18 shots in a 5-1 win over Latvia. His steady presence gives the Americans a proven veteran between the pipes as they try to close the preliminary slate unbeaten.
Germany counters with top-end talent that can alter any game plan. The roster features elite playmakers and finishers who can change momentum in an instant, which is why the U. S. coaching staff has emphasized respect for individual matchups. Coach Mike Sullivan warned that the Germans have “game‑breakers” and that it will be a competitive contest. Forwards and defensemen who can manufacture chances off the rush or capitalize on power plays will dictate the flow.
Leaders on the American side stressed a singular focus. Matthew Tkachuk said the objective is to win the group and that the team will “do whatever it takes” to get the result, while Dylan Larkin underscored the need to play their game and limit giveaways that hand dangerous German players extra opportunities. Penalty discipline and limiting transitions will be especially important against a team built to exploit mistakes.
Form, history and what to watch
Team USA arrives with a 2-0 record after back-to-back victories: a 5-1 opening win over Latvia and a 6-3 result against Denmark. Germany is 1-1 after a 3-1 victory over Denmark and a 4-3 upset loss to Latvia, a result that complicates its path to an automatic quarterfinal berth.
The two nations have met 10 times previously at the Olympics, with the United States victorious in all but one of those meetings. The most recent Olympic encounter ended in a 3-2 U. S. win in 2022. That history lends a psychological edge to the Americans, but past results won’t stop Germany’s top scorers from trying to tilt the ice in their favor.
Key things to watch: how Hellebuyck handles sustained pressure, whether the U. S. can stay out of the penalty box, and how effectively the Americans contain Germany’s elite forwards on the rush. Special teams could decide the outcome; a single power-play goal or a timely penalty kill might be the difference between clinching the group and being forced into a do-or-die qualification match on Tuesday.
Expect a tight, well-coached affair with high stakes bending every decision toward caution and discipline. For Team USA, one point is the immediate objective; for Germany, a regulation win would reshape Group C and set up a more favorable path forward. The faceoff at 3: 10 p. m. ET will tell which side manages the pressure best.
