Hellebuyck anchors Team USA's dominant win while Connor remains surprisingly quiet. Americans find their stride after a slow start.
The second day of the Men’s Ice Hockey tournament wrapped up with Team USA finally making its debut, as Winnipeg Jets stars Connor Hellebuyck and Kyle Connor both took the ice for their first Olympic appearances. After a sluggish start, the Americans found their rhythm and pulled away for a convincing 5-1 win over Latvia.
The opening period was tighter than many anticipated. Latvia held its own and matched the United States stride for stride, keeping the game even through 20 minutes. However, the Americans elevated their play in the second period, breaking the game open with three goals. They added another marker in the third to secure the four goal victory.
Hellebuyck had a relatively quiet night in net. The Jets goaltender stopped 17 of 18 shots, facing limited sustained pressure as the American skaters controlled much of the play after the first intermission. He looked calm and composed in his Olympic debut, rarely tested with high danger chances.
Connor’s night was also quieter than expected. Slotted on the third line alongside Tage Thompson and Dylan Larkin, the Jets winger logged just 11:20 of ice time and did not register a shot on goal. Known for his scoring touch at the NHL level, Connor was not as involved offensively as many anticipated. The only goal from his line came on the power play, when Thompson capitalized with the man advantage.
While the Americans will gladly take the result, they may look for more production from some of their top offensive weapons moving forward.
Team USA returns to action Saturday against Denmark, followed by a Sunday matchup with Germany. With the quick turnaround, Hellebuyck could get a rest in one of the contests as the Americans manage their workload early in the tournament.
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