Merzlikins' Olympic Start Ends in 5-1 Loss to U.S.; Werenski Makes Early Impact
Elvis Merzlikins stood tall through the opening stages of Latvia's Olympic opener but ultimately yielded five goals in a 5-1 loss to the United States at Santagiulia Arena on Thursday (3: 10 p. m. ET). Columbus teammate Zach Werenski made his presence felt on the U. S. blueline, helping ignite the eventual run that separated the nations.
Merzlikins battles through traffic as Latvia fights to stay close
Merzlikins started for Latvia and gave his team a chance early, stopping 33 of 38 shots while keeping the contest within reach until the Americans seized control late in the middle frame. Latvia benefited from two successful challenges that wiped away U. S. goals in the first period, and Merzlikins rode some fortunate breaks — including a post — to help the scoreboard read 1-1 after 20 minutes.
By the second period the game shifted. The U. S. generated heavy pressure, piling up shot totals and finishing the middle stanza with multiple goals that put the contest out of reach. Merzlikins was pulled after two periods, having stopped 28 of 32 through 40 minutes; the backup went in for the third and helped close out the final 20 minutes. The final numbers leave Merzlikins with a solid save total despite the lopsided shot advantage against him.
At 31, Merzlikins spoke before the game about treating the Olympics like another major tournament and not letting the magnitude of the moment overwhelm him. "When you were a kid, you were getting ready for this, for these big moments, " he said, adding that his approach is to enjoy the opportunity and test himself on the sport's biggest stage. He framed the assignment as a personal challenge: show what he has after years of hard work.
Werenski helps spark U. S.; defense corps depth shows
Zach Werenski, the Columbus defenseman who lined up for the Americans, made an immediate impact with an assist on the opener just over five minutes into the game. His crisp passing and skating were on display early, complementing a deep American blueline that can deploy multiple pairings to control play. Werenski finished with three shots on goal and was comfortable skating in tight spaces and initiating offensive sequences.
The U. S. blueline versatility allowed coaches to rotate impact players and maintain sustained pressure. A well-timed power play and quick transition play helped break the game open in the second period, at which point the Americans turned their advantages into goals and built a multi-goal lead. Despite the final score, the first-period competitiveness suggested Latvia could pose problems in phases, particularly when Merzlikins was sharp.
Looking ahead: Latvia's path and Merzlikins' role
Latvia's coaching staff has options in net for the remainder of round-robin play, and Merzlikins figures to remain in the mix for at least one more start given his status and form coming into the tournament. The team will need to tighten gap control and limit second-chance opportunities if it hopes to hang with deeper rosters in the group stage.
For Werenski, the opener reinforced his ability to be a two-way presence on a big stage and to slide into different roles depending on the matchup. The Americans' defense depth will be a major factor across the tournament, while Latvia will lean on moments of goaltending excellence and opportunistic offense to generate upsets.
Neither side will have long to dwell on the result. Tournament play is compact and each game carries heavy weight; both teams move quickly to game-planning for their next opponents and sharpening details that can be decisive in tight international matchups.
