USA Survive A First Period Scare from Denmark in 6-3 Victory

Milan, Italy — Trailing heading into the second period against Denmark for the first time since its 3-2 overtime gold medal loss to Canada in 2010, USA Hockey could have lain down and succumbed to the bright lights. Instead, the US embraced said pressure.

In game two at the Olympics, the United States of America defeated Denmark 6-3. Overall, it was a sloppy game for the Americans, but three points are three points. Thirteen different US players got on the score sheet, while Brady Tkachuk and Jack Hughes continue to be the standouts for Team US.

With the team down 2-1 in the second period, it was Brady Tkachuk and Jack Eichel who powered the Americans into the lead with two goals in less than a minute. Jack Hughes would also score his first Olympic goal in the third period, putting the game to rest.

“I thought the whole group really stepped up in the third period,” said Jack Eichel. “Our team’s going to continue to get better as this tournament goes.”

Goaltender Jeremy Swayman got the nod in net today, with Connor Hellebuyck getting ready to start against Germany tomorrow. Swayman looked shaky for parts of the game, making eighteen saves on twenty-one shots, but was able to right the ship and get the win.

With the victory, USA Hockey will close out pool play against Germany tomorrow afternoon. The winner of the game will win Group C and get an automatic bid in the Quarterfinals. The loser will have to play a one-game playoff to advance in the tournament.

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Denmark Stuns the US in the 1st

In the first twenty minutes, Denmark took advantage of a “flat” United States team. Just one hundred seconds after the opening whistle, Denmark would take the lead.

The Danish hounded the US defenseman on the forecheck, and it led to a turnover. Oscar Fisker Molgaard picked up the turnover and found Nick Olesen all alone in front of the net. Jeremy Swayman made the first save, but the rebound hit off Zach Werenski’s skate and into the net, giving Denmark an early 1-0 lead.

That lead lasted all but two minutes. Quinn Hughes hit a dashing Matt Boldy at his own blue line, and the Milford, Massachusetts native did the rest. Boldy’s original shot was saved, but Mads Sogaard slid out of position, and Boldy capitalized on a wrap-around to tie the game for the US.

Denmark answered right back and took the lead for a second time in the period. With what looked like a harmless shot from center ice, Nicholas Jensen caught Swayman off guard, and the puck went right by the American goaltender as the crowd at Milano Santagiulia IHA were left stunned at what just happened.

“No [I didn’t see it], it was a flash screen,” Swayman said of the shot from center ice. “It was just the perfect height, right between the stands and board level. I truly lost it… No matter how they go in, you have to step up and stop the next one.”

When asked if the dark boards affected the play, Swayman said, “I’m colorblind, so it doesn’t matter to me.”

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As the teams headed to their locker rooms for the first intermission, you could see the stunned reactions from fans in the arena. The US didn’t live up to its standard in the first period, but Jack Eichel wanted to give Denmark its credit for a solid period.

“It’s a 60-minute game; they had a few bounces go their way in the first period,” said Eichel. “Give them credit, they played really hard.”

Trailing 2-1 heading into the second period, the United States found its spark from none other than Brady Tkachuk.

Jack Eichel won a face-off clean in the offensive zone, right to Tkachuk, and just like in game one, Brady wristed one by the blocker of his Ottawa Senators teammate Mads Sogaard to get the States right back into the game

“It’s one of those quick tournaments that you kind of have to find it quick and I think that’s what’s good about our group, we’re just kind of scratching at it right now and it’s going to work out that we’re going to peak at the right time, said Tkachuk. “(We’re) finding chemistry and building off that.”

That chemistry between the Tkachuk’s and Eichel line paid off again less than a minute later. Off another faceoff win from Eichel, Matthew Tkachuk deflected the puck back to Eichel and, in one motion, roofed a shot past the glove of Sogaard to give the US its first lead of the game.

An unlikely source doubled the Americans’ advantage with 2:37 left in the second period. Defenseman Noah Hanifin jumped into the rush and beat Sogaard five-hole to give the US a 4-2 lead.

Denmark wasn’t going away, however, and ended the period scoring with 2.6 seconds on the clock. Phillip Bruggisser’s slap shot from the point beat Swayman clean. There were questions about a potential goalie change for Mike Sullivan, but the US coach stayed the course and let Swayman finish the game.

“The confidence didn’t waver – didn’t waver with myself, didn’t waver with anyone on the team. That’s why this is such an elite group,” Swayman said. “I think it’s good to go through adversity. You don’t want to, but it’s good.”

Team USA Finished Game Strong

In the third period, the United States finally pulled away from Denmark with Jake Guentzel and Jack Hughes scoring their first goals of the tournament.

Guentzled scored a one-timer off a sneaky pass from Auston Matthews to make it 5-3 while Jack Hughes pulled off his specialty and banked a shot off the back of Frederik Dichow’s skate to solidify a 6-3 Team USA victory.

United States captain Auston Matthews didn’t like his team’s performance early on, but was encouraged by how his team finished the game. “It’s not about how you start, it’s about how you finish, and I thought we finished really strong.”

Team USA head coach Mike Sullivan echoed the captain’s sentiment post-game.

“I thought we got better as the game went on,” said head coach Mike Sullivan. “I love the resilience of our team and especially the response after the first period.”

Who’s Next for the US? Germany

The United States is back in action tomorrow against Germany to finish Group C play. The Germans started group play with a 3-1 victory over Denmark, but stumbled against Latvia, losing 4-3 Saturday morning.

Germany has eight NHL players on its roster, with stars like Leon Drisaitl, a top-five player in the World, Tim Stützle, and defenseman Moritz Seider anchoring the team. In between the pipes for Germany is Philipp Grubauer, an NHL goaltender with 356 starts under his belt.

The winner of this game will win group C and automatically advance to the quarterfinals. For the losing team, their path will be much harder, needing to play in a one-game playoff to advance in the tournament. Puck drop is scheduled for 3:10 p.m. ET at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena.

Game Summary

Final Score: United States of America 6, Denmark 3
Date: February 14th, 2026
Venue: Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena, Milan, Italy
Attendance:
Officials: Referees – Mikael Holm & Dan O’Rourke; Linesmen – Ryan Daisy & Tarrington Wyonzek

Scoring Summary

First Period

• 1:40 — Denmark: Nick Olesen (Oscar Fisker Molgaard) EV — 1-0 Denmark
• 3:35 — USA: Matt Boldy (Quinn Hughes & Jacob Slavin) EV — 1-1
• 11:16 — Denmark: Nicholas Jensen (Malte Setkov) EV — 2-1 Denmark

Second Period

• 9:26 — USA: Brady Tkachuck (Jack Eichel) EV — 2-2
• 10:23 — USA: Jack Eichel (Matthew Tkachuk) EV — 3-2 USA
• 17:23 — USA: Noah Hanifin (Vincent Trocheck & Brock Faber) EV — 4-2 USA
• 19:57 — Denmark: Phillip Bruggisser (Nikolaj Ehlers & Alexander True) EV — 4-3 USA

Third Period

• 7:24 — USA: Jake Guentzel (Auston Matthews) EV — 5-3 USA
• 14:27 — USA: Jack Hughes (Brock Nelson) EV — 6-3 USA

Team Stats

Goaltending

United States of America

• Jeremy Swayman (W): 18 Saves on 21 shots (.944 SV%)

Denmark

• Mads Sogaard (L): 32 Saves on 37 Shots (0.865 SV%)
• Frederik Dichow: 9 Saves on 10 Shots (0.900 SV%)

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