Nelson scores twice, United States pulls away from Latvia in Olympic opener

MILAN -- Brock Nelson scored two goals, and Team USA defeated Team Latvia 5-1 at the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026 at Santagiulia Arena on Thursday.

It was the preliminary round opener for each team in Group C.

Jack Hughes assisted on both of Nelson’s goals, and Quinn Hughes, Matthew Tkachuk and Jack Eichel also each had two assists for the U.S. (1-0-0-0). Brady Tkachuk, Tage Thompson and Auston Matthews also scored, and Connor Hellebuyck made 17 saves.

GAMECENTER SUMMARY: Latvia-USA

Renars Krastenbergs scored for Latvia (0-0-1-0). Elvis Merzlikins allowed four goals on 32 shots through two periods before being replaced by Arturs Silovs, who made five saves.

Nelson, a forward for the Colorado Avalanche, scored the game-winning goal at 10:38 of the second period when he put the U.S. ahead 2-1. Jack Hughes found him with a pass on the cycle, and Nelson went forehand-to-backhand to draw Merzlikins out of position before tucking the puck in at the right post.

Thompson made it 3-1 with a backhand under the bar for a power-play goal at 17:35.

Nelson extended the lead to 4-1 with 12 seconds left in the period, knocking in a cross-slot pass from Jack Hughes to cap a pretty passing sequence inside the Latvia zone.

The Americans outscored the Latvians 3-0 in the second, outshooting them 17-2.

Matthews scored a power-play goal 2:35 into the third period, on the first shot faced by Silovs, to make it 5-1.

In the first period, Nelson was part of two goals nullified by challenges from Latvia.

Quinn Hughes had a goal overturned at 6:59 after it was determined Nelson was offside, and a goal off a Nelson redirection was overturned at 11:35 because of goaltender interference on J.T. Miller.

WATCH: Men's Hockey Highlights from the Olympic Winter Games

Brady Tkachuk made it 1-0 for the U.S. at 5:29 of the first, scoring from the top of the right circle after Matthew Tkachuk chipped a pass ahead to him.

Krastenbergs tied the game 1-1 at 7:25. He beat Hellebuyck between the pads off the rebound of a shot by Zemgus Girgensons.

Team USA plays Team Denmark at Santagiulia Arena on Saturday (3:10 p.m. ET; Peacock, USA, ICI Télé, CBC Gem, TSN). Team Latvia plays Team Germany at Rho Arena on Saturday (6:10 a.m. ET; Peacock, CNBC, ICI Télé, CBC Gem, TSN).