Just one day after the match against Latvia, the German men's national team iIn the third and final group match of the Olympic ice hockey tournament, the USAThe game starts at 21:10 PM.
Olympics and World Championships: direct comparison
On Sunday, the two teams will meet for the third time at the Olympic Games. In 2022 in Beijing, the USA narrowly won their final preliminary round match 3-2, while in 2002 in Salt Lake City, the US team cruised to a 5-0 victory in the quarterfinals. Both countries are also very familiar with each other from their direct encounters at World Championships. They have faced each other 16 times so far, with the USA winning 11 matches. DEBThe team secured four victories and one draw. In their last encounter at the 2025 World Cup, the USA, who later went on to win the title, prevailed 6-3 in the group stage in Herning, Denmark.
Olympics and World Cup: The USA at tournaments
Team USA has participated in 24 Olympic ice hockey tournaments, first appearing at the 1920 Summer Games in Antwerp. Their record is impressive: they have won two gold, eight silver, and one bronze medal. Their last gold medal came at Lake Placid in 1980, during the famous "Miracle on Ice" game against the then-presumed unbeatable Soviet Union.
The USA is also regularly among the tournament favorites at World Championships (21 medals). Last year, after 1933 and 1960 (which also counted as the gold medal at the Winter Olympics in Squaw Valley), the USA secured their third World Championship title with a 1-0 overtime victory against Switzerland. The game-winning goal in the 63rd minute was scored by Tage Thompson (Buffalo Sabres).
Olympic and World Championship medals: 33
Current IIHF world ranking: 2th.
Squad: Star power in every position
Head coach Mike Sullivan (57) has a top-class roster at his disposal. Every single player is active in the NHL, and the team brings a tremendous amount of skill, physicality, and experience. In short: With this spectacular mix, the USA is among the absolute title contenders.
Either Connor Hellebuyck (Winnipeg Jets) or Jake Oettinger (Dallas Stars) are expected to start in goal. Hellebuyck has already won the Vezina Trophy three times as the NHL's best goaltender. Both are among the strongest. Goalies of the world. Third in the group is Jeremy Swayman (Boston Bruins).
The defense reads like an all-star lineup. Quinn Hughes (Minnesota Wild) is one of the most skilled defensive players around, and Zach Werenski (Columbus Blue Jackets) is also exceptionally good offensively. Meanwhile, players like Jaccob Slavin (Carolina Hurricanes) and Noah Hanifin of the Las Vegas Golden Knights are considered excellent two-way defenders. Tim Stützle will also be reunited with a teammate in Jake Sanderson (Ottawa Senators).
The offense is even more stellar. World-class goal scorers Auston Matthews (captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs, three-time NHL top scorer) and Tage Thompson (Buffalo Sabres) are among the biggest names in the world's strongest league. The same is true for brothers Matthew Tkachuk (two-time Stanley Cup winner with the Florida Panthers) and Brady Tkachuk (Ottawa Senators). Jake Guentzel (Tampa Bay Lightning) also won the Stanley Cup with the Pittsburgh Penguins, as did point guard Jack Eichel (Las Vegas Golden Knights).
Incidentally, Moritz Seider and JJ Peterka will also be facing teammates from their clubs, Dylan Larkin (Detroit Red Wings) and Clayton Keller (Utah Mammoth).