In the opening match of the ice hockey tournament at the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics, the USA showcased a strong performance by coming from a 1-1 tie against Latvia to clinch a 5-1 victory. The match saw the Americans take an early lead with a goal from Brady Tkachuk, followed swiftly by a turned score from Latvia's Renars Krastenbergis, demonstrating an intense contest. However, as the game progressed into the second period, the USA's pressure mounted, leading to three additional goals that shifted the momentum definitively in their favor.

The Americans proved especially dominant in the later stages of the game, effectively breaking down Latvia's defense. With significant contributions from players like Brock Nelson and Tage Thompson, the USA scored three goals in the second period alone, seizing a noticeable advantage. Despite attempts from Latvia to rally back, the USA maintained control and secured their victory with a strong closing period, ultimately finishing with a score of 5-1.

Additionally, the day's events highlighted Germany's performance, as they secured a solid 3-1 win over Denmark. This outcomes reflected the competitive spirit of the tournament early on and set a precedent for the impending matches, positioning the USA and Germany as strong contenders in the initial stages of the Winter Olympics ice hockey competition.