Team USA entered its second game of the 2026 Winter Olympics fresh off a dominant 5–1 win over Latvia in round‑robin play. Jack Hughes was electric in the opener, flying all over the ice and distributing the puck with ease. Mike Sullivan’s squad came into this matchup hungry for more reps, more chemistry, and more momentum in this short Olympic tournament.
Denmark was expected to offer a stiffer challenge, and for stretches they did. Their roster features six current NHL players, including Carolina Hurricanes star Nikolaj Ehlers. Jeremy Swayman got the start in goal after Connor Hellebuyck backstopped the Americans to victory in Game 1.
With the first‑place team in each group earning a bye into the medal round, Team USA had every incentive to keep the pedal down early in the tournament. In an interesting move, Denmark opted to rest their No. 1 goaltender, Frederik Andersen, in favor of backup Mads Søgaard.
Denmark pushed the Americans early, capitalizing on sloppy play from Jeremy Swayman and jumping on several soft goals — including a brutal long‑distance shot from Nicklas B. Jensen just inside the red line that gave Denmark a 2–1 lead after the first period.
But Team USA wasn’t rattled. They stormed through the second period, with Brady Tkachuk and Jack Eichel scoring twice in a span of 57 seconds to flip the game on its head. From there, the Americans became more assertive, more relentless, and more like the gold‑medal contender everyone expects them to be.
Noah Hanifin, Jake Guentzel, and the electric Jack Hughes added to the scoring as the talent‑stacked U.S. roster overwhelmed Denmark. When you can slot an all‑world player like Hughes on your fourth line, you know you’re dealing with a team built to medal — and built for the showdown everyone wants: USA vs. Canada.
This tournament may feel like a slow march toward that inevitability, but the Americans still need to get through legitimate threats in Finland, Sweden, or upstart Slovakia before that rematch becomes reality. Vincent Trocheck also picked up an assist in the win, and the Rangers' center now has two points in two games for Team USA.
The 6–3 final score makes the game look closer than it was. If not for Swayman’s shaky outing, Team USA wouldn’t have broken a sweat. His performance all but guarantees he won’t see the crease again in the elimination rounds unless an injury forces the issue.
Next up: Edmonton Oilers superstar Leon Draisaitl and Team Germany. A win — in regulation or overtime — clinches the top seed in the group and a bye straight into the quarterfinals.
Team USA knows the stakes, and they know in order to reach their ultimate goal, then they need to take care of business now, because the real fun is coming.