Consider it a tune-up game.

After a slow start -- and a pair of overturned goals -- the U.S. took a 5-1 win over Latvia in its 2026 Olympic debut, adding three points to its Group C total.

Brock Nelson scored a pair of goals to extend his family's international hockey legacy -- and would've had a third if his first-period tally weren't called back due to goalie interference.

Latvia, with a roster that includes a handful of current and former NHLers, as well as some soon-to-be arrivals, did its best to hang with the Americans, but a bruising and unrelenting U.S. attack work it down.

Connor Hellebuyck, the reigning back-to-back Vezina Winner as the NHL's top goalie, turned in a solid performance with 16 saves, allowing just a first-period score to Rena's Krastenbergs.

Brady Tkachuk opened the scoring for the U.S., with Tage Thompson and Auston Matthews adding tallies.

Blue Jackets goalie Elvis Merzlikins stopped 28 shots through 40 minutes before ceding the net to Arturs Silovs for the final period.

The U.S. win came on the heels of Canada's 5-0 demolition of Czechia, with both North American squads asserting themselves early in a tournament in which they're the favorites to play for gold.

The U.S. is keeping its foot on the gas.

Auston Matthews, camped out at the hash marks, deposited a snapshot behind Arturs Silovs, a harsh welcome present for Latvia's No. 2 goalie and the Penguins backup and a 5-1 lead for the Americans early in the third.

Assists go to Jack Eichel and Quinn Hughes.

Brock Nelson's family history at the Olympics has been well documented. Today, he finally got to make some of his own.

"Felt all the emotions coming out," he said between periods on the NBC broadcast. "Just trying to take it all in."

With a pair of goals in his Olympic debut, safe to say he's doing just that.

Another 20 minutes on tap with a chance for a hat trick.

Alexa, play "Free Bird."

Only a coach's challenge can stop Brock Nelson, and the former Islanders scorer isn't leaving that to chance anymore.

The forward put Jack Hughes' feed into a gaping net to give the Americans a second goal in just 2:13 and a 4-1 lead after two periods.

Matthew Tkachuk, not one to let his brother hog all the glory, notched the secondary assist.

There's 20 minutes to play, but barring a 1980-esque miracle, this one is pretty much put to bed.

Tage Thompson displayed his unique blend of size and hands with an in-close backhander that went over Merzlikins to increase the lead to 3-1.

The Americans are really separating themselves this period, holding a 30-11 shot advantage late in the frame -- adding 15 of them in the second.

Brady Tkachuk put the Americans on the board in the first period, and ince you thought he was done for the night, the Ottawa Senators captain has a reminder for you.

The power forward laid a heavy open-ice hit on Janis Jaks and then turned it into a scoring opportunity.

It's heads-on-a-swivel time.

Brock Nelson will get to keep this one on the stat sheet.

The Avalanche forward took a nifty feed from Jack Hughes in the slot and danced around Merzlikins for a pretty goal to put the U.S. in front just over halfway through the second period.

The Americans have been buzzing this period.

Some good will come out of one of those overturned U.S. goals, at least.

It's 1-1 after one.

A pair of overturned goals tell more of the story of the opening period than the actual score -- the Americans are vastly deeper than Latvia, a team that has few active NHLers on its roster.

Shots are 14-8 in favor of the U.S.

Still, a couple of bounces either way and it's a whole different ballgame.

One thing to note: there's been a little choppiness brewing after the whistles, a development that would easily favor the Americans if that's where things turn.

Another U.S. goal taken off the board.

Brock Nelson's tip-in was reversed when officials -- at the behest of another Latvia coach's challenge -- deemed J.T. Miller interfered with Elvis Merlikins in the crease.

That's two overturned goals for the Americans so far, and they could prove costly.

It's all even now.

Renars Krastenbergs buried a rebound in a mass of bodies in front of goalie Connor Hellebucyk to knot things up.

The Americans don't seem particularly thrilled Latvia got away with an elbow to the face of forward Auston Matthews.