USA clinches Group C with 5-1 win over Germany, likely to meet Sweden in Olympic quarterfinals

MILAN — Auston Matthews scored twice and added an assist as the United States closed the preliminary round with a 5-1 victory over Germany, finishing 3-0 in group play and earning the No. 2 seed and a bye into the quarterfinals. While the Americans checked the primary box of advancing without a play-in, the draw likely hands them a heavy test: Sweden, the No. 7 seed, will face Latvia in a qualification game and the winner will meet the U. S. in the single-elimination quarterfinals.

Matthews leads a balanced, confident U. S. attack

Matthews’ night at Santagiulia Arena was emblematic of what the team has tried to build across three games: top-end skill married to two-way responsibility. He set up Zach Werenski for a late first-period goal, scored on the power play early in the second and added another tally later, finishing with two goals and an assist. Coach Mike Sullivan praised the captain’s complete performance, saying the work on both sides of the puck inspired the group.

Supporting contributions were plentiful. Werenski, Brock Faber and Tage Thompson also found the net, while Matthew Tkachuk and Jake Sanderson each recorded two assists. Goaltender Connor Hellebuyck made 23 saves on the night as the Americans closed the prelims with a plus-11 goal differential — short of the top seed but strong enough to avoid the extra qualification round.

“We just wanted to win so we could win the group, ” Tkachuk said. “Seeding stuff, all that handles itself. You’re going to play everybody if you want to win your ultimate goal. ” Jack Eichel added that the team’s best hockey is still ahead, a sentiment echoed across the U. S. locker room as players emphasized growing chemistry and tighter structure heading into knockout play.

Bracket shakeup makes quarterfinals treacherous

The preliminary rounds produced an unexpected result in another pool: Slovakia topped its group and reshaped the bracket, creating high-stakes matchups as single-elimination play begins. With Canada owning the No. 1 seed on goal differential and the U. S. slotted second, quarterfinal draws now promise heavyweight contests early in the knockout phase.

Practically, that means the American path will likely include Sweden — a squad capable of punching above its seed — if Sweden defeats Latvia in the qualification game. The tournament’s format places the No. 2 seed against the winner of the No. 7 vs. No. 10 qualification matchup, turning Tuesday’s qualification games into must-watch events and setting up Wednesday’s quarterfinals as potential medal-round previews.

Germany, now the No. 6 seed, falls into the qualification slate and will meet France with the winner assigned to face No. 3 Slovakia. Switzerland and Italy also square off in a qualification game with the winner drawing No. 4 Finland. The qualification games are scheduled for Tuesday, the quarterfinals for Wednesday, the semifinals on Friday and the medal games on Saturday and Sunday — all times ET.

Tune-up or test? U. S. eyes growth before do-or-die hockey

Beyond outcomes, the U. S. coaching staff has been weighing matchups and line chemistry. Sullivan highlighted improvements in the top line after an uneven start to the tournament, noting that players are beginning to settle in and find tempo together. For a team built on NHL-caliber stars, balancing individual talent with structured team play will be crucial in the sudden-death rounds.

“The confidence just continues to grow within our group, ” Matthews said. “The chemistry, just being comfortable with one another, playing with new guys that maybe you’re not as used to playing with — each game I think we’ve taken steps in the right direction. ” That steady progression will be tested immediately: the winner of Sweden-Latvia arrives in Milan with momentum and the sort of disruptive style that can fluster even elite rosters.

As the U. S. turns its focus to Wednesday’s quarterfinal, the message in the locker room is succinct and familiar to any championship-minded club: an unbeaten group stage is a strong start, but the hard work — and the toughest opponents — are still to come.