(WGR Sports Radio 550) - Buffalo Sabres forward Tage Thompson helped Team USA get off on the right foot on Thursday at the 2026 Winter Olympics, beating Latvia, 5-1.
Thompson played on a line Thursday with Dylan Larkin (Detroit Red Wings) and Kyle Connor (Winnipeg Jets), but it was on the power play where he scored his first-career Olympic goal.
Thompson and former Sabres captain Jack Eichel (Vegas Golden Knights) were on the left side of the power play and looked like they did when they played together in Buffalo, as they were interchangeable between the corner and the left circle.
Eichel found Thompson at the side of the crease, the Sabres forward pivoted and roofed a backhand under the crossbar on Latvian goalie Elvis Merzlikins (Columbus Blue Jackets).
On a later power play, Eichel wound up down low and found United States captain Auston Matthews (Toronto Maple Leafs) in the slot for his first goal of the tournament.
The United States had a tough start in their Olympic opener, leaving the first period tied with Latvia, 1-1.
In the opening 20 minutes of play, Team USA had two goals challenged and disallowed. On the first negated goal, Brock Nelson (Colorado Avalanche) was offside, taking away a goal by Quinn Hughes (Minnesota Wild). On the second disallowed goal, J.T. Miller (New York Rangers) interfered with Merzlikins, negating a Nelson tip-in.
Nelson was also alone in front when he hit the post. Matthew Tkachuk (Florida Panthers), who had two assists on Thursday, also backhanded a puck off the crossbar.
Larkin also had a wide-open net early and put the puck through the crease and out the other side.
Team USA broke the game open in the second period on Nelson’s two goals and Thompson’s tally.
Thompson had another great chance when Connor found him in the high slot for a one-timer that Merzlikins stopped.
The United States had a 17-2 shots advantage in the second period, and chased Merzlikins after 40 minutes. He made 28 saves on 32 shots faced.
U.S. goalie Connor Hellebuyck (Jets) didn’t have to be spectacular, as he turned aside 17-of-18 pucks that came his way.
The Americans will next face off on Saturday against Denmark.
Earlier on Thursday, Team Canada opened its Olympics with a 5-0 win over Czechia. Goalie Jordan Binnington (St. Louis Blues) came through once again on the biggest stage, recording a 26-save shutout.
Canada’s top-three centers are Sidney Crosby (Pittsburgh Penguins), Connor McDavid (Edmonton Oilers) and Nate MacKinnon (Avalanche). McDavid and Crosby combined for five assists, while MacKinnon scored a goal.
Other goal scorers for the Canadians were 19-year-old Macklin Celebrini (San Jose Sharks), Mark Stone (Golden Knights), Bo Horvat (New York Islanders) and Nick Suzuki (Montreal Canadiens).
Canada is next in action on Friday against Switzerland.
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