When Team USA faced Team Latvia on Thursday, there could be only one winner between Zach Werenski and Elvis Merzlikins.
And in the battle between the two Columbus Blue Jackets representing their home countries in the 2026 Olympic Games, the winner was — as expected — Werenski.
Team USA, a heavy favorite in the game, scored three times in the second period en route to a 5-1 win over Team Latvia in what was the first of three round-robin games for each team.
Werenski's only point in the game was a secondary assist on Team USA's first goal. Brady Tkachuk scored that goal, with the primary assist coming from his brother, Matthew Tkachuk.
EARLY AND OFTEN FOR USA.
— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) February 12, 2026
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Team Latvia tied the game just over two minutes later and the score remained 1-1 until the middle part of the second period, when the United States would connect three times in the final 9:22 of the frame to take a 4-1 lead. Two of those goals came from Brock Nelson, while Tage Thompson connected on a power play goal for the other.
Merzlikins, who finished with 28 saves on 32 shots in two periods, was relieved by Arturs Silovs for the final twenty minutes.
Despite being pulled, Merzlikins made a number of big stops to keep Team Latvia in it until the experience of Team USA became too much to overcome.
With Silovs in, Auston Matthews scored a power play goal early in the third to put Team USA up by the eventual 5-1 final.
The United States also had two goals taken away, both in the first period, as a result of successful challenges by the Latvian coaching staff.
For both teams, the second of their three round-robin contests will come Saturday. Latvia will face Germany at 6:10 a.m. eastern on CNBC, while the United States battles Denmark at 3:10 p.m. eastern on the USA Network. Both games will also be available to stream on Peacock.
