Matthews scores twice, Team USA cruises past Team Germany

MILAN -- Captain America powered Team USA to a perfect finish in the preliminary round.

Auston Matthews scored two goals, added an assist, and was a big part of the United States controlling the play throughout a 5-1 win against Team Germany at Santagiulia Arena on Sunday.

"I think it inspires the group the way he played tonight," U.S. coach Mike Sullivan said. "All our guys know what he's capable of. He's an elite player, he's one of the best players in the world. When he does a lot of the little things and he's committed to play on both sides of the puck like he was tonight, I think he's an inspiration to the group."

The U.S. (3-0-0-0) clinched first place in Group C and an automatic bye into the quarterfinals. It will be the No. 2 seed in the single-elimination stage, behind Team Canada.

The Canadians also went 3-0-0-0 in Group A and earned the top seed with a plus-17 goal differential. Team USA finished the preliminary round with a plus-11 goal differential.

The Americans next play on Wednesday, when they will face the winner of the qualification playoff game between No. 7 Team Sweden and No. 10 Team Latvia. The qualification playoffs will be held on Tuesday.

GAMECENTER SUMMARY: USA-Germany

"The confidence just continues to grow in our group," Matthews said. "Each game we've taken steps in the right direction of where we want to grow our game going into the quarterfinals. It's good to see."

Zach Werenski, Brock Faber and Tage Thompson also scored, Matthew Tkachuk and Jake Sanderson each had two assists, and Connor Hellebuyck made 23 saves for the Americans.

Tim Stutzle scored, and Maximilian Franzreb made 32 saves for Germany (1-0-2-0), which is the No. 6 seed and will play No. 11 Team France on Tuesday.

"A little devasted," Germany defenseman Moritz Seider said. "I think still there are plenty of positive things to take away. The starts have been great in all three games. That's something we've got to continue, but 20 minutes isn't enough to play with the big nations. If we play like that against France, I think we give ourselves a really good chance to advance. That's definitely something we've got to focus on."

Germany went 0-for-3 on the power play after going 0-for-4 in a 4-3 loss to Team Latvia on Saturday.

“I thought we hung in there pretty good, had stretches where we showed some offense, but at the end of the day, they’re lethal with the chances that you give them," Germany forward Nico Sturm said. "We’re going to analyze what we did wrong, but I think we’re going into the next round with a good feeling.”

As happy as Seider, Sturm and the Germans might have been with how they started, it was Matthews, the U.S. captain, who made sure the feeling didn't last heading into the first intermission.

He started his productive night with a cross-ice saucer pass to Werenski, who gave the Americans a 1-0 lead at 19:51 of the first period with a quick shot through Seider's legs.

"It's a great pass," Werenski said. "I knew he was going to make it. He's such a talented player. Not many guys would see that, but I saw him kind of shoulder check and see me, and a guy with his caliber, his talent is going to make that play. I was a beneficiary of it."

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Matthews continued to inspire the Americans in the second period, when he made it 2-0 by scoring a power-play goal at 3:25. Quinn Hughes' shot from the left circle hit Franzreb in the chest, resulting in the puck dropping down to Matthews, who was in position in front of the net to sweep the puck in.

"He's such an incredible player, and when you see him in a tournament like this, you come to realize how much of a 200-foot game he really plays and how solid he is on both ends of the ice," Faber said. "Just his playmaking ability, how strong he is on pucks, he's a nightmare for other teams to play against, and for us 'D,' it's a whole lot of fun to watch."

Faber extended the lead to 3-0 at 17:35 of the second when his shot from the right point found its way into the net off the glove of Franzreb, who appeared disrupted by Jack Eichel's attempt to deflect it.

Thompson made it 4-0 at 1:55 of the third period, scoring blocker side with a one-timer from inside the blue line off a feed from Dylan Larkin.

Matthews then struck again, scoring his second of the game and third of the tournament at 6:46 to push it to 5-0. Once again, he got to the front of the net and deflected Sanderson's backdoor pass up and off the crossbar before knocking the rebound in after it landed behind Franzreb.

"I think how honest he plays the game is pretty remarkable for how offensive he is," forward Matt Boldy said. "He doesn't cheat the game at all. He's always in the right place. Obviously, when the puck is on his stick we're feeling good about it."

Matthews is, too. He scored just one goal in his final eight games with the Toronto Maple Leafs before the Olympic break, but now he has three in Milan along with two assists.

"Each game I've felt better and better," Matthews said. "It's nice to get rewarded like that and continue to build the confidence like that individually and as a team."

Stutzle ended Hellebuyck's shutout bid at 11:22, scoring from the left circle with a shot over the goalie's glove to make it 5-1.

But the U.S., led by Matthews, had already done enough damage to put the game out of reach and earn an automatic bid into the quarterfinals.

"He's just that guy," forward Jake Guentzel said. "He's under a lot of heat from the media. He just shuts it out and plays hockey. He leads by example and he's vocal on the bench. He's been great for us."