Team USA Dominates Slovakia 6-2, Advances to Olympic Gold Medal Game vs. Canada

The United States men's hockey team crushed Slovakia 6-2 in Friday's Olympic semifinal, earning a spot in Sunday's championship game against Canada. The Americans are now one win away from their first Olympic gold medal since the famous 1980 "Miracle on Ice" victory.

MILAN – Team USA’s men’s hockey squad delivered a commanding performance Friday night, defeating Slovakia 6-2 in Olympic semifinal action to advance to Sunday’s gold medal contest against Canada.

The Americans dominated from start to finish, building a commanding 5-0 lead before Slovakia managed to find the back of the net. Dylan Larkin opened the scoring, followed by goals from Tage Thompson and Jack Eichel, while Jack Hughes found the net twice in the offensive explosion. Brady Tkachuk also contributed a goal sandwiched between Slovakia’s two late scores.

The contest grew heated in its closing moments when brothers Brady and Matthew Tkachuk engaged in fisticuffs with Slovakia’s Erik Cernak, resulting in all three players receiving 10-minute penalties and early exits from the game. Brady Tkachuk was assessed an additional two-minute roughing penalty.

“A lot of guys in there, hard to see from the bench,” U.S. forward Brock Nelson commented about the altercation. “But love the fire from my guys for sure.”

With NHL stars back in Olympic competition after a 12-year hiatus, many anticipated this North American rivalry would culminate in a championship showdown. Team USA delivered on those expectations following Canada’s narrow 3-2 semifinal triumph over defending champion Finland.

“I think it’s what everyone wanted, this match-up in the gold medal game, and I’ve thought about it a lot,” Larkin stated.

The bronze medal contest will feature Slovakia against Finland on Saturday at Santagiulia Arena, the same venue that will host Sunday’s title game.

Larkin struck first just five minutes into the opening period, receiving a feed inside the blue line before weaving through Slovak defenders and firing a wrist shot past goaltender Samuel Hlavaj.

Despite two man-advantage opportunities in the first period, Slovakia couldn’t capitalize against the tournament’s only team yet to surrender a short-handed goal.

The Americans needed just 17 seconds on their initial power play chance in the period’s final minute, with Thompson unleashing a one-timer from a sharp angle that found the net’s upper reaches.

Team USA successfully killed off two more penalties early in the middle frame before exploding for two goals within 19 seconds to effectively seal the victory.

Hughes maneuvered around Slovakia captain Tomas Tatar before rifling a shot into the top corner, and before the arena announcer could complete his call, Eichel had wrapped a backhand attempt around the goalie for another score.

Slovakia immediately pulled Hlavaj in favor of Stanislav Skorvanek, but the replacement lasted less than six minutes before Hughes buried his second goal of the evening for a 5-0 advantage.

Juraj Slafkovsky’s goal for Slovakia drew little celebration, and Brady Tkachuk restored the five-goal margin with a breakaway tally before Pavol Regenda added Slovakia’s final score.

The United States continues pursuing their first Olympic gold since the legendary 1980 Lake Placid “Miracle on Ice,” when they upset the heavily favored Soviet Union en route to the championship. The Americans hope to mirror their women’s team, which captured gold by defeating Canada in Thursday’s final.