MILAN – The American men’s hockey team improved to 2-0 in group play with a victory against another underdog.

The U.S. men’s hockey team, loaded with 25 NHLers, won its second preliminary game of the 2026 Winter Olympics on Saturday, Feb. 14, defeating Group C cohort Denmark, 6-3, at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena.

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The Danes scored first, led twice in the first period and made it a one-goal game with seconds to spare in the second period. The Americans, with Jeremy Swayman in goal, outshot the Danes 15-4 in the second period, again showing off their depth against an underdog team just like in the game against Latvia.

The U.S. finishes preliminary play Sunday against Germany. Canada already has claimed the top spot in Group A, and Slovakia advances to the quarterfinals, too, by winning Group B.

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Team USA faces Denmark in men’s Olympic hockey: See the battle

Jeremy Swayman #1 of Team United States reacts after giving up a goal scored by Nick Olesen #95 (not pictured) of Team Denmark in the first period during the Men’s Preliminary Group C match between the United States and Denmark on day eight of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on February 14, 2026 in Milan, Italy.

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Team USA faces Denmark in men’s Olympic hockey: See the battle

Jeremy Swayman #1 of Team United States reacts after giving up a goal scored by Nick Olesen #95 (not pictured) of Team Denmark in the first period during the Men’s Preliminary Group C match between the United States and Denmark on day eight of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on February 14, 2026 in Milan, Italy.

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Team USA faces Denmark in men’s Olympic hockey: See the battle

Brady Tkachuk of United States clashes with Oliver Lauridsen of Denmark.

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Team USA faces Denmark in men’s Olympic hockey: See the battle

Lars Eller #20 of Team Denmark and Charlie McAvoy #25 of Team United States compete for the puck in the first period during the Men’s Preliminary Group C match between the United States and Denmark on day eight of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on February 14, 2026 in Milan, Italy.

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Team USA faces Denmark in men’s Olympic hockey: See the battle

Charlie McAvoy #25 of Team United States shoots the puck against Nikolaj Ehlers #24 of Team Denmark in the first period during the Men’s Preliminary Group C match between the United States and Denmark on day eight of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on February 14, 2026 in Milan, Italy.

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Team USA faces Denmark in men’s Olympic hockey: See the battle

Matthew Tkachuk of United States and Brady Tkachuk of United States in action with Mads Sogaard of Denmark.

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Team USA faces Denmark in men’s Olympic hockey: See the battle

Nikolaj Ehlers #24 of Team Denmark runs into the goal in the first period during the Men’s Preliminary Group C match between the United States and Denmark on day eight of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on February 14, 2026 in Milan, Italy.

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Team USA faces Denmark in men’s Olympic hockey: See the battle

Christian Wejse of Denmark and Jack Eichel of United States in action during a face off in men’s ice hockey group C play during the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena.

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Team USA faces Denmark in men’s Olympic hockey: See the battle

Spectators supporting both Denmark and United States with flags in the stands before the match in men’s ice hockey group C play during the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena.

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Team USA faces Denmark in men’s Olympic hockey: See the battle

Jeremy Swayman #1 of Team United States looks on in the first period during the Men’s Preliminary Group C match between the United States and Denmark on day eight of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on February 14, 2026 in Milan, Italy.

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Team USA faces Denmark in men’s Olympic hockey: See the battle

Nikolaj Ehlers #24 of Team Denmark slides into the post in the first period during the Men’s Preliminary Group C match between the United States and Denmark on day eight of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on February 14, 2026 in Milan, Italy.

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Team USA faces Denmark in men’s Olympic hockey: See the battle

Nikolaj Ehlers #24 of Team Denmark slides into the post in the first period during the Men’s Preliminary Group C match between the United States and Denmark on day eight of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on February 14, 2026 in Milan, Italy.

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Team USA faces Denmark in men’s Olympic hockey: See the battle

Nicholas B Jensen of Denmark celebrates scoring their second goal with teammates.

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The Danes kept their game plan simple: Try to do their best to keep the puck out of their zone and if not, make sure Mads Sogaard saw the shots. The Danes opted to save their top netminder, Frederik Andersen, for their Sunday match against Latvia.

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Huge underdogs as they were against the U.S, the Danes got a huge boost 1:40 into the game on a goal from Nick Olesen. Matt Boldy replied for the Americans two minutes later.

The shocker of the period was Denmark’s second goal, scored by Nicholas B. Jensen at 11:16 when he fired a shot while near his own bench that somehow slipped by Swayman.

Brady Tkachuk and Jack Eichel scored off draws midway through the second period to put the U.S. up by a goal. The U.S. moved ahead 4-2 with 2:37 to go when Noah Hanifin scored on a rebound, the puck clipping the post on its way into Denmark’s net. That was part of a 15-4 advantage in shots for the Americans just in the second period. But the Danes’ fourth one was a doozy: Swayman gave up a slap shot from the blue line with 2.6 seconds on the clock after Vincent Trocheck lost the draw.

Jake Guentzel scored at 7:24 of the third period. Sogaard exited the game with 8:53 to play in regulation after appearing to hurt his groin or hip while making a save, ceding Denmark’s net to Frederik Dichow. Jack Hughes scored with 5:33 to play, fending off Denmark’s Jesper Jensen Aabo to make further strengthen the U.S.’ goal differential in the standings.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: USA beats underdog Denmark with depth in men’s hockey comeback win