U.S. men's hockey dominates Latvia in Olympic opener

 

opened the Olympics by rolling past Latvia 5-1 in a dominant showcase of some of the country's best NHL players. Brock Nelson scored twice, four players had two assists apiece, and there was production up and down the lineup.

"We believe in the depth we have," winger Jake Guentzel said. "There's good players on every line. That's just where American hockey is right now.''

After a weird first period with a couple of video reviews and a tying goal by Latvia, the Americans found their groove and for long stretches barely let their opponents have the puck. The U.S. outshot Latvia 38-18 and needed starter Connor Hellebuyck to make only 17 saves.

"I felt like we controlled the play," center Jack Eichel said. "We're going to continue to get better every game in this tournament, every period in this tournament. That's our goal, and it's a good start for us."

Elvis Merzlikins was under siege at the other end, and after Nelson's second goal, he sat in the crease with his head bowed in his lap. An odd-man rush became a version of the Harlem Globetrotters on ice with pass after pass: Jack Hughes to brother Quinn to Matthew Tkachuk, back to Jack and then to Nelson to tap into a half-open net with 11.1 seconds left in the second period.