USA Clinches Group C, Settles for No. 2 Seed After 5-1 Win Over Germany — Sweden Looms as Likely Quarterfinal Test

MILAN — Team USA closed out preliminary play with a controlled 5-1 victory over Germany on Sunday, finishing 3-0 in Group C and earning an automatic bye into the quarterfinals. Auston Matthews paced the Americans with two goals and an assist, but despite the win the U. S. falls to the No. 2 seed and will likely face a dangerous Sweden squad in Wednesday's knockout round (ET).

Matthews, depth scoring power U. S. through group stage

Matthews provided the spark everyone expected, finishing the night with a multi-goal performance and an assist as the U. S. methodically ran out a 5-1 scoreline at the Santagiulia Arena. Zach Werenski, Brock Faber and Tage Thompson also found the net, while Matthew Tkachuk and Jake Sanderson each chipped in two assists. Goaltender Connor Hellebuyck made 23 saves to keep the Americans in control.

“We just wanted to win so we could win the group, ” Matthew Tkachuk said. “We never talked once about top seed at all. Seeding stuff, all that handles itself, right? You’re going to play everybody if you want to win your ultimate goal. But our goal coming in was to go 3-0 in group play, check that box and move on, don’t have to play in the play-in stuff. We accomplished that and we have a lot more to accomplish now. ”

Coach Mike Sullivan praised Matthews' two-way game, noting that the captain’s consistent commitment in both ends has been a galvanizing influence. “It’s getting better with every game, ” Sullivan said. “Those guys are building chemistry. ” Jack Eichel added that the roster is still progressing. “I think the best from our group is still yet to come, ” he said.

The Americans closed the preliminary round with a +11 goal differential, behind the top seed’s plus-17. That margin left the U. S. as the tournament’s second seed for the single-elimination bracket.

Bracket math: a tough quarterfinal likely awaits

Finishing as the No. 2 seed means the U. S. skips Tuesday’s qualification games but is slotted to face the winner of the Sweden-Latvia play-in on Wednesday (ET). Sweden, surprisingly dropped to a No. 7 seed after earlier results, would represent a high-end opponent—one capable of ending a title bid in a single game.

The reshuffling of group results has created heavyweight early matchups in the knockout phase. Canada takes top seed status and will face the winner of a Czechia-Denmark play-in, while the remaining quarterfinal pairings will be finalized after Tuesday’s qualification games. Those play-ins are scheduled for Tuesday (ET); quarterfinals are set for Wednesday (ET), semifinals Friday (ET), and the medal games on Saturday and Sunday (ET).

Germany, which finished with a 1-0-2 record in the preliminaries and will head into a qualification game against France, found moments of promise but could not contain the high-end finishing of the Americans. Germany’s goalie made several big stops, but the team went 0-for-3 on the power play in the contest.

For the U. S., the focus is already shifting to match preparation. With a short turnaround from the bye, emphasis will be on sharpening line matchups, tightening defensive zone coverage and sustaining the balanced attack that allowed the Americans to avoid the play-in gauntlet. Expectations remain sky-high for a roster built around elite NHL talent; the question now is whether the depth and defensive structure can carry them through consecutive single-elimination tests.

“You’re going to play everybody if you want to win your ultimate goal, ” Tkachuk said, echoing the team’s steady focus. For the United States, the immediate task is clear: recover, review, and get ready for a quarterfinal that could be as close to a semifinal-level matchup as the tournament offers.