ESPN.com · Feb 12
Grades, questions from Team USA's Olympic hockey win vs. Latvia
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Team USA has won its opening game in the 2026 Olympic men's ice hockey tournament, upending Latvia by a final score of 5-1.
The contest was not without some drama, as the first period included two successful coach's challenges from Latvia that wiped U.S. goals off the board.
After that, however, the ice seemed to tilt the Americans' way, and goals from Tage Thompson, Auston Matthews and a pair from Brock Nelson were the difference.
Here's what we learned in the opener, along with an overall team grade and big questions to ponder prior to Team USA's matchup against Denmark on Saturday.