MILAN — This preliminary matchup was closer than the Americans would’ve liked.
Denmark, equipped with just five true NHLers, kept a close margin on the United States men’s hockey team through 40-plus minutes of play Saturday night before the latter pulled out a 6-3 win.
It was far from what the Olympic tournament expected from Team USA as a whole, but at least one key player was his usual self and ensured the stars and stripes emerged victorious.
Brady Tkachuk was a lone warrior for too much of this game.
If not for the 6-foot-4 power forward, the U.S. may not have been able to shake off the ugly 2-1 goal that was scored from the red line by Denmark’s Nicholas B. Jensen in the first period.
Tkachuk was right in the middle of everything, stirring it up in front of the net at the intermission whistle and playing the physically imposing game he has built his reputation on.
His emphatic celebration that followed his game-tying goal roughly halfway through the middle frame was a palpable jolt to the lineup.
Team USA was then in control for the remainder of the game.
The phrase “drags the team into the fight” is often attached to Tkachuk and his brother/linemate, Matthew.
In truth, the younger Tkachuk brother is just salivating for combat, willing to lead the troop directly into a war zone and is fearlessly enjoying every single moment of it.
Aside from Tkachuk, the U.S. played the first period like it was some throwaway game up in Rochester.
2026 WINTER OLYMPICS
There wasn’t much oomph in anything the Americans did.
Denmark opened the scoring less than two minutes into the game, when Zach Werenski turned the puck over before it pin-balled in off him in front.
After Matt Boldy’s wraparound goal evened the score at one-all, USA goalie Jeremy Swayman had a big yikes moment in his Olympic debut.
Jensen flung the puck from around the red line, and it somehow found its way past Swayman.
The lower bowl at Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena collectively gasped as it became clear what had just happened.
The unexpected goal gave the Danes a 2-1 lead going into the first intermission.
Tkachuk got the U.S. back on track with a goal off a faceoff win to even the score again.
An emphatic celebration from the Senators’ captain got the Americans going in the second period.
In the span of seven minutes, the Americans scored twice — one from Jack Eichel and another from Noah Hanifin — to pull ahead 4-2.
With 2.6 seconds left in the middle frame, however, Denmark cut it to one off a slap shot from Phillip Bruggisser at the top of the zone.