MILAN – Auston Matthews has scored more goals than any other player since entering the NHL during the 2016-17 season. But the goal he scored on Thursday night, his first at the Olympics and first in a Team USA sweater since the 2016 World Championship, felt different.
“It’s pretty cool,” the Toronto Maple Leafs centre told TSN. “This is such a special opportunity and still feels pretty surreal to be here and be able to compete and put on this jersey and play with this group of guys. It’s a great start for us in this tournament and we’ll look to build off it.”
Extending his team’s lead to 5-1 in today’s #Olympics game vs Latvia, Auston Matthews has his 1st career international goal for #TeamUSA since the 2016 World Hockey Championships (went scoreless in last year’s 4 Nations Faceoff & played the 2016 World Cup on “Team North America”) pic.twitter.com/xXPlFUtsDk
— StatsCentre (@StatsCentre) February 12, 2026
Matthews scored the final goal in Team USA’s 5-1 win over Latvia. The victory wasn’t without adversity despite the scoreline. In the first period, Matthews was hammered with a high hit by Dans Locmelis, which went uncalled.
“It’s fine,” Team USA’s captain said. “Those things happen all the time. You know, can’t really complain about it. The ref maybe didn’t see it. Was a little shaken up, but felt fine and just kept playing and just go from there.”
Latvia scored to tie the game 1-1 shortly after Matthews got hit. Twice Team USA appeared to regain the upper hand in the first period, but both goals were overturned. Brock Nelson went offside, barely, to negate a goal by Quinn Hughes. Then Nelson had his own goal waved off for goalie interference because J.T. Miller made slight contact with Elvis Merzlikins.
Nelson eventually broke through with two goals in the second period. After his first one, the Colorado Avalanche centre celebrated by making the good-goal sign.
“I’ve seen it before a couple times, yeah, but just spontaneous,” Nelson said of the reaction. “That one just felt good.”
Matthews, who once celebrated a goal the same way following a controversial call that went against the Leafs during a game in Toronto, appreciated Nelson’s perseverance.
“He’s super underrated and he’s having an incredible year in Colorado,” Matthews said. “A couple unfortunate calls there in the first, but we knew he was going to get some more looks and when he did he made the most of it. He was unbelievable.”
“You never really know how many looks you’ll get in the end,” Nelson said. “Had a couple overturned, kind of felt it wasn’t going to be our night. But wanted to stick with the same mindset, same game plan, and we did a good job in the second and found a couple open looks and cashed in.”
The first game of the Olympics can be tricky with all the nervous energy and emotion in the building.
“It was awesome,” said Winnipeg Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck, who made 17 saves. “I just tried to soak it in as much as I could.”
“I mean, just stepping on that ice, that was so special,” said winger Brady Tkachuk. “Just hearing the crowd, the chants and seeing all the flags, it was really special.”
Tkachuk got to do it alongside big brother Matthew, which led the Ottawa Senators captain to experience a pinch-me moment early on.
“I think that lasted maybe one shift,” he said. “I didn’t get the puck out and then [Matthew] was letting me know. So, right when that first shift ended it was all business.”
The siblings ended up teaming up on the game’s first goal, which came off Brady’s stick.
“It’s super exciting,” he said. “It felt special that I ended up connecting with Matthew.”
THE TKACHUK BROTHERS 🇺🇸
Brady Tkachuk opens up the scoring for Team USA men’s hockey with the assist from his brother Matthew and Zach Werenski 💪 pic.twitter.com/E3UIcLpcMl
— ESPN (@espn) February 12, 2026
Team USA stayed off the ice on Friday. They will take on Denmark on Saturday in the second of three preliminary-round games.
“Everyone played great and really brought some energy,” Hellebuyck said. “And now we have something to keep building on.”