Workforce USA goes undefeated in group stage after win over Germany

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Workforce USA did what it was anticipated to do within the group stage in males’s ice hockey, defeating Germany , 5-1, to go undefeated within the preliminary spherical video games on the 2026 Milan Cortina Video games on Sunday.

Auston Matthews scored two objectives for the Stars and Stripes, whereas Tage Thompson, Zach Werenski, and Brock Faber every discovered the again of the online in Team USA ’s third victory in Milan.

After wins of their first two video games — 5-1 victory over Latvia, adopted by a 6-3 end in opposition to Denmark on Saturday — Workforce USA has a bye heading into the quarterfinals, which start on Wednesday.

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United States' Tage Thompson, second proper, celebrates together with his teammates after scoring his aspect's fourth aim throughout a preliminary spherical sport of males's ice hockey between the US and Germany on the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Sunday, Feb. 15, 2026. (AP Photograph/Carolyn Kaster)

Canada and Slovakia have additionally earned byes after profitable Group A and B, respectively.

Whereas it was anticipated Workforce USA would deal with the three underdogs of their group in Milan, it wasn’t simple all through the 60 minutes, together with in opposition to Germany on Sunday.

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Regardless of Workforce USA getting photographs on Maximilian Franzreb early on this contest, Germany was taking part in very bodily and getting Grade-A probabilities on the opposite aspect of the ice in opposition to U.S. web minder Connor Hellebuyck.

But it surely was Werenski discovering the again of the online first on this sport with solely 9 seconds to spare. He secured a go from Matthews, and used the German display screen in entrance of Franzreb to get the puck over the purple line for the lead heading into the locker room.

All through the event to this point, the primary interval hasn’t been probably the most fluid for Workforce USA, however they finally made up for it within the following two intervals in all three video games.

United States' Auston Matthews, left, scores his aspect's fifth aim throughout a preliminary spherical sport of males's ice hockey between the US and Germany on the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Sunday, Feb. 15, 2026. (AP Photograph/Carolyn Kaster)

On this one, Matthews made one of the best of an influence play alternative, seeing a shot by Quinn Hughes deflect off his stick and undergo Franzreb’s legs for the second aim of the sport.

Towards the tip of the interval, Faber added his first aim of the event, whereas Matthew Tkachuk acquired his fifth help in addition to brother Brady Tkachuk getting his first on the aim.

With a controlling 3-0 lead getting into the third interval, Thompson scored lower than two minutes. Matthews would later rating his third aim of the event to make it 5-0 and just about seal the sport for Workforce USA.

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Germany’s Tim Stutzle, who has been having a superb event, potted his fourth aim, nevertheless it clearly wasn’t sufficient to mount a comeback ultimately.

United States' Auston Matthews, proper, celebrates after scoring his aspect's fifth aim throughout a preliminary spherical sport of males's ice hockey between the US and Germany on the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Sunday, Feb. 15, 2026. (AP Photograph/Carolyn Kaster)

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Now, Workforce USA will wait to see who they face within the quarterfinals. The event additionally strikes to single elimination now, requiring the U.S. to win three extra video games to succeed in the gold-medal sport, which is ready for Feb. 22.