MILAN — For the second game in a row, the USA faced adversity in the first period.
For the second time, a big second period led to a victory as the U.S. men’s hockey team rallied to win 6-3 on Saturday, Feb. 14, and improve to 2-0 at the 2026 Winter Olympics.
In the Latvia game, the USA had two goals disallowed. Against Denmark on Saturday, Feb. 14, the USA trailed 2-1 after two bad-luck goals.
Denmark’s Nick Olesen scored early after the puck went in off Zach Werenski’s skate. Then Nicholas B. Jensen gave Denmark a 2-1 lead with a shot from center ice that got past USA goalie Jeremy Swayman.
But just like in the Latvia game, the USA’s superior firepower won out. Brady Tkachuk and Jack Eichel scored 57 seconds apart in the second period, both goals coming after faceoffs. Noah Hanifin gave the USA a 4-2 lead.
Though Phillip Bruggisser cut the USA lead to 4-3 with 2.6 seconds left in the second period, Jake Guentzel and Jack Hughes scored in the third period for the 6-3 win.
The USA will face Germany on Sunday at 3:10 p.m. ET and can clinch a bye to the quarterfinals with a Group C victory.
What’s next for the USA?
The 2-0 Americans will face Germany on Sunday (3:10 p.m., USA Network, Peacock) in the final preliminary round game. Germany, which features Leon Draisaitl and Tim Stutzle, lost to Latvia on Saturday to fall to 1-1. The USA will win Group C and gain a bye to the quarterfinals if it wins. Germany would win the group if it beats the USA in regulation because the first tiebreaker is head-to-head competition. With Connor Hellebuyck rested on Saturday, he likely would be the USA’s starting goalie on Sunday.
Final score: USA 6, Denmark 3
The USA improves to 2-0. If it beats Germany on Sunday, it will gain a bye to the quarterfinals.
Denmark power play
Matt Boldy is called for delay of game after putting the puck over the glass.
USA power play
Christian Weise is called for hooking. Denmark kills penalty. Less than three minutes left.
USA goal: Jack Hughes scores
He banks the puck off goalie Frederik Dichow for a three-goal lead. USA 6, Denmark 3
Denmark goalie change
Frederik Dichow comes in Mads Sogaard, who appears to have been hurt doing the splits on a save.
Denmark power play
Auston Matthews is called for cross-checking. He was retaliating for stickwork by a Denmark player. Denmark gets two shots, but the USA kills the penalty. Less than 10 minutes left.
USA goal: Jake Guentzel restores two-goal lead
The USA pressures and Auston Matthews feeds Jake Guentzel in the slot. His goal restores the USA’s two-goal lead. Zach Werenski gets the second assist. USA 5, Denmark 3
Matthew Tkachuk chance
Matthew Tkachuk is alone in the slot, but his shot is stopped by Mads Sogaard.
Third period underway
4-3 USA.
Jeremy Swayman statistics
He has given up three goals on 11 shots through two periods.
End of second period: USA 4, Denmark 3
Denmark goalie Mads Sogaard did his best to keep the Americans at bay as they piled up the shots. The Americans scored an equalizer midway through the second period, off a face-off, with Brady Tkachuk netting his second goal of the Olympics. The U.S. scored again off a draw at 10:23, with Jack Eichel ripping a shot from the right circle to make it 3-2.
The U.S. moved ahead, 4-2 with 2:37 to go when Noah Hanifin scored on a rebound, the puck clipping the post on its way into Denmark’s net. That was part of a 15-4 advantage in shots for the Americans just in the second period. The Danes scored with 2.6 seconds on the clock to make it 4-3, with Phillip Bruggisser firing a shot from the blue line.
Denmark goal: Denmark scores in final seconds of period
Phillip Bruggisser’s point shot beats Jeremy Swayman with 2.6 seconds left in the second period to cut the USA’s lead to one. USA 4, Denmark 3
USA goal: Noah Hanifin adds to USA lead
Noah Hanifin’s shot squeezes through Mads Sogaard for a two-goal lead. USA 4, Denmark 2.
USA goal: Jack Eichel gives USA lead
Another USA goal off a faceoff. Jack Eichel picks up a loose puck and beats Mads Sogaard. That’s two USA goals in 57 seconds for the lead. USA 3, Denmark 2
USA goal: Brady Tkachuk ties game
Jack Eichel win a faceoff and the puck goes to Brady Tkachuk, who rips a shot past Mads Sogaard, his Senators teammate, at 9:26. USA 2, Denmark 2
USA power play
Patrick Russell slashes the stick out of Brady Tkachuk’s hand after a USA scoring chance. USA had two power-play goals in the opener against Latvia. Denmark kills the penalty, allowing one U.S. shot.
Second period underway
Denmark leads 2-1.
End of first period: Denmark 2, USA 1
The Danes grabbed momentum early on a goal from Nick Olesen just 1:40 into the game. Matt Boldy answered for the Americans two minutes later, scoring on Mads Sogaard. The Danes moved ahead again at 11:16 on a goal from Nicholas B. Jensen, firing a shot from right in front of the U.S. bench that slipped by Jeremy Swayman. Malte Setkov had an assist on that goal. The Danes kept their game simple, focusing on keeping the puck out of their zone and making sure Sogaard could see the puck. Sogaard made 11 saves in the first period to five by Swayman.
Brady Tkachuk mixes it up
The USA has a little flurry at the end, but Mads Sogaard keeps it 2-1 Denmark. Brady Tkachuk gets involved with a Danish player as the period ends. No penalties.
Denmark goal: Jeremy Swayman lets in long shot
Nicholas B. Jensen scores on a shot from just inside the red line. The puck went past a USA player and goalie Jeremy Swayman wasn’t able to pick it up for a Denmark goal at 11:16. Denmark 2, USA 1
Denmark power play
Dylan Larkin is called for holding. USA kills it off.
USA goal: Matt Boldy ties game
Matt Boldy picks up a rebound of his shot on goalie Mads Sogaard, goes behind the net and scores on a wraparound at 3:35. Quinn Hughes and Jaccob Slavin get the assists. USA 1, Denmark 1
Denmark goal: Denmark scores early
Nick Oleson scores at 1:40 for Denmark after a Zach Werenski turnover. The puck goes in off the skate of Werenski after Jeremy Swayman makes a save on Oleson. Denmark 1, USA 0
Game underway
USA’s Jeremy Swayman vs. Denmark’s Mads Sogaard in net. The Tkachuk line starts for the USA.
Olympic men’s hockey schedule and scores today
All times Eastern
Group B – Sweden 5, Slovakia 3
Group C – Latvia 4, Germany 3
Group B – Finland 11, Italy 0
Group C – USA 6, Denmark 3
Watch Olympic men’s hockey
Watch Olympic men’s hockey on Peacock
Team USA lines vs Denmark
USA vs Denmark predictions
Mike Brehm: USA 4, Denmark 2.
Jace Evans: USA 5, Denmark 2.
Full predictions
Jeremy Swayman helped USA win world championships
Swayman, who’s facing Denmark, didn’t play in the 4 Nations Face-Off. But he did help the USA get a rare gold medal at the 2025 world championships. He went 7-0 with a 1.69 goals-against average and .921 save percentage at the tournament, including a shutout in the championship game against Switzerland.
USA, Denmark, Greenland politics just ‘outside noise’
The political aspect of Denmark and the U.S. meeting in the Olympics stems from U.S. President Donald Trump’s repeated demands that Greenland, an autonomous territory of the Kingdom of Denmark, should belong to the U.S.
‘We’re not used to being in the news that much,’ said Lars Eller, a forward with the Ottawa Senators who has played 1,116 games in the NHL. ‘But I feel like every week there’s something new, and whatever was in the news last week is forgotten quickly and we move on.
‘I don’t think it’s on any of our minds what’s going on politically in the world. It’s outside noise and in the profession we’re in, you have to be good at tuning out the outside noise.’
Why are there no fights in Olympic hockey?
International Ice Hockey Federation prohibits fighting, and it could lead to an ejection and a suspension.
‘Fighting is not part of international ice hockey’s DNA,’ the organization states in Rule 46 of the IIHF rulebook.
‘Players who willingly, participate in a ‘brawl/fight’ so-called ‘willing combatants,’ shall be penalized accordingly by the referee(s) and may be ejected from the game,’ the rulebook says. ‘Further supplementary discipline may be imposed.’
How long is NHL Olympic break?
The NHL will take a break from Feb. 6-24 for the 2026 Winter Olympics. No trades can take place during the Olympic break.
How the Olympics men’s hockey tournament works
The 12 teams are divided into three groups. They are:
Group A: Canada, Switzerland, Czechia, France
Group B: Finland, Sweden, Slovakia, Italy
Group C: USA, Germany, Latvia, Denmark
Teams play one game each against the other three teams in their group. Countries get three points for a regulation win, two for an overtime win, one for an overtime/shootout loss and zero for a regulation loss.
After the preliminary round is complete, teams are seeded 1 through 12 under the following criteria:
Higher position in the group
Higher number of points
Better goal difference
Higher number of goals scored for
Better IIHF world ranking
The top four teams (group winners and best second-place team) get a bye to the quarterfinals. Teams 5-12 play in a qualifying round, with the winners going to the quarterfinals.
When is the Olympic men’s hockey tournament?
The tournament started Feb. 11 with two games. The USA opened play Feb. 12 against Latvia. All teams will play three games during the round robin, which runs through Feb. 15. The top four teams get byes to the quarterfinals.
Playoff qualification games are on Feb. 17 for teams ranked fifth through 12th, quarterfinals are Feb. 18 and semifinals are Feb. 20.
The bronze medal game is Feb. 21 and the gold medal game is Sunday, Feb. 22.
