Auston Matthews, USA hockey Olympics: U.S. routs Germany to finish unbeaten, locks quarterfinal bye
MILAN — Auston Matthews spearheaded a commanding performance as Team USA rolled past Germany 5-1 on Sunday (ET), finishing the preliminary round 3-0-0-0 and earning an automatic bye into the quarterfinals. Connor Hellebuyck backstopped the Americans with 23 saves while Matthews supplied two goals and an assist.
Matthews sparks balanced, efficient attack
Matthews set the tone throughout the contest with a late first-period play that led to a Zach Werenski goal and continued his influence in the second period with a power-play strike. He finished the night with two goals and an assist, and his willingness to play aggressively on both ends drew praise from the bench. "I think it inspires the group the way he played tonight, " coach Mike Sullivan said. "He's an elite player, he's one of the best players in the world. When he does a lot of the little things and he's committed to play on both sides of the puck like he was tonight, I think he's an inspiration to the group. "
Beyond Matthews, the U. S. attack was well distributed. Brock Faber, Zach Werenski and Tage Thompson also found the net, while Matthew Tkachuk and Jake Sanderson each recorded two assists. The collective push produced a plus-11 goal differential through the preliminaries and kept momentum steady as the single-elimination stage looms.
What’s next: path to the podium
By clinching first place in Group C, the United States secured the No. 2 seed for the knockout rounds behind Canada, the top seed from Group A. The automatic berth into the quarterfinals gives the Americans extra rest and preparation time: their next game will come on Wednesday (ET), against the winner of the qualification playoff between Sweden and Latvia, which is scheduled for Tuesday (ET).
Matthews emphasized the steady growth he sees in the roster. "The confidence just continues to grow in our group, " he said. "Each game we've taken steps in the right direction of where we want to grow our game going into the quarterfinals. " With Hellebuyck in net and depth across lines and the blue line, the U. S. enters the single-elimination stretch as one of the favorites.
Germany: positives to build on despite the loss
Germany leaves the preliminary round with mixed feelings. Tim Stützle supplied the lone goal for the Germans while rookie goalkeeper Maximilian Franzreb turned in 32 saves in defeat. Germany will enter the qualification playoff as the No. 6 seed and face No. 11 France on Tuesday (ET) for a chance to advance.
Defenseman Moritz Seider acknowledged disappointment but also noted room for optimism. "A little devasted, " he said. "I think still there are plenty of positive things to take away. The starts have been great in all three games. That's something we've got to continue, but 20 minutes isn't enough to play with the big nations. " Forward Nico Sturm added that the Germans will analyze the game and adjust: "I thought we hung in there pretty good, had stretches where we showed some offense, but at the end of the day, they’re lethal with the chances that you give them. We’re going to analyze what we did wrong, but I think we’re going into the next round with a good feeling. "
Special teams proved costly for Germany: the unit went 0-for-3 on the night and had been struggling in previous play as well. That lack of production with the man advantage, combined with finishing lapses, made the difference against a U. S. squad that capitalized on high-danger opportunities.
As the tournament shifts into single-elimination play, the Americans will lean on the blend of star power and two-way commitment exemplified by Matthews and a steady goaltending performance from Hellebuyck. For Germany, the challenge is immediate: regroup for Tuesday's qualifier, address power-play shortcomings, and find a way to sustain the strong starts they've shown through the early stages of the tournament.
