USA trounces Germany 5-1, closes group play unbeaten at Milan-Cortina 2026
Team USA rolled to a 5-1 victory over Germany to finish the preliminary round a perfect 3-0, booking a place in the quarterfinals of the 2026 Winter Olympics. Auston Matthews led the charge with two goals and an assist, while Zach Werenski, Brock Faber and Tage Thompson also scored. Tim Stutzle tallied Germany’s lone goal.
Late first-period break and Matthews’ multi-point night
The game featured a chaotic finish to the first period that ultimately swung momentum toward the Americans. A potential goal by Jack Eichel was waved off after referee Wes McCauley stopped play to protect Germany’s goalie Maximilian Franzreb, who had lost a blocker and was left with an exposed hand. After the faceoff that followed, Werenski snapped a 0-0 tie with just 8. 7 seconds remaining in the opening frame.
Matthews, who has been the team’s most consistent offensive force in the tournament, added two goals and an assist, pushing the U. S. attack to at least five goals in each of its three group-stage games. Brock Faber and Tage Thompson chipped in with tallies that extended the lead, while Germany’s Tim Stutzle answered with a goal that gave his side a brief spark before the Americans pulled away.
Goaltending shuffle and special-teams notes
Connor Hellebuyck made his second start of the tournament and stopped 23 shots, solidifying his case to be the No. 1 netminder heading into the medal rounds. He has allowed just two goals in his two appearances. The coaching staff has emphasized that short tournaments come down to performance, and Hellebuyck’s steady outing should influence lineup decisions moving forward.
The team’s goalie rotation has been under scrutiny; Jake Oettinger backed up Hellebuyck after being scratched the night before, while Jeremy Swayman, who started earlier in the tournament, gave up three goals in a previous win. Coach Mike Sullivan stressed before the game that “in tournaments like this — where things happen fast, they’re not very long — performance really matters, ” signaling that form will drive choices as the Americans eye deeper rounds.
Lineup adjustments and looming quarterfinal matchup
Lineup tinkering continued to be a theme. Kyle Connor, who began the tournament on a high-profile line, found himself with limited impact and was replaced in the lineup by Clayton Keller for this game. The move underscored a willingness to adapt combinations quickly in pursuit of balance and scoring punch.
With the group wrapped up, the United States advances directly to the quarterfinals and will await the winner of the Sweden–Latvia matchup. Germany, meanwhile, drops into the play-off round and will face France. The Americans will have time to reset and fine-tune matchups and special-teams work before the knockout stage, but the short tournament format means there is little margin for error.
Disallowed goals and tight officiating have been a recurring storyline for the U. S. squad, but the team’s depth and defensive structure helped blunt Germany’s top talents and protect a clean sheet for most of the middle periods. As the tournament shifts into single-elimination play, the combination of depth scoring, goaltending clarity and timely adjustments will be critical for the U. S. if it hopes to contend for gold.
