Undefeated Team USA Hockey Advance to Quarterfinals With 3–2 Win Over Germany

(Clockwise from L) Germany's Tom Kuehnhackl, USA's Aaron Ness, USA's Steven Kampfer, USA's goaltender Drew Commesso, Germany's Nicolas Kraemmer, USA's Matty Beniers and USA's Matt Knies eye the puck during the men's preliminary round group A match of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games ice hockey competition between USA and Germany, at the Wukesong Sports Centre, in Beijing, on February 13, 2022. Anthony Wallace/AFP via Getty Images

Team USA Hockey held off Germany 3–2 to finish first in Group A and advance to the quarterfinals in the Beijing Olympics, at Wukesong Arena in Beijing, on Feb. 13.

With Olympic hockey not allowing current NHL participation, the United States is the youngest, and likely the fastest, team in the tournament with 15 college players, five of which are 19 years old.

Team USA finished the preliminary group round-robin play with a perfect 3-0-0 record for the top seed in Group A, defeating China, Canada, and Germany; and will have an advantage resting to await for their next game on Feb. 16.

Germany, who took the silver medal in the last Olympics at the 2018 PyeongChang Games, took the early lead in the first period at the 2:00 mark on a Patrick Hager power play goal.

USA's Nathan Smith (Top) challenges Germany's goaltender Danny aus den Birken during the men's preliminary round group A match of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games ice hockey competition between USA and Germany, at the Wukesong Sports Centre, in Beijing, on Feb. 13, 2022. Anthony Wallace/AFP via Getty Images

Team USA quickly countered with a power play goal of their own by Steve Kampfer at 4:26 in the first, and would take a 3–1 lead after a 2nd period goal by Matthew Knies at the 4:50 mark, and an unassisted game-winner off of a forced turnover by Nathan Smith at 2:47 into the third period.

“I was just trying to be hard on the forecheck,” said Smith. “I honestly don’t even know who it bounced off of. It bounced straight to the middle, and I just tried to hammer away.

The Americans fell back on defense late in the game and gave up a goal at 17:31 in the third period to former NHL player Tom Kuhnhackl, but were able to hold off the barrage of attacks as Germany pulled their goalie, for a 3–2 victory.

“Our leadership group of older guys do a really good job of getting the younger guys going for games,” said Smith. “It proves that we can win these close games, and down the road that’s going to be big for us.”

U.S. goalie Drew Commesso received mush praise for making 24 saves in his second victory in group play.

Germany's Leonhard Pfoderl (Top L) challenges USA's goaltender Drew Commesso (Bottom L) and USA's Brian Cooper during the men's preliminary round group A match of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games ice hockey competition between USA and Germany, at the Wukesong Sports Centre, iin Beijing, on February 13, 2022. Anthony Wallace/AFP via Getty Images

Moving forward Smith added, “I think we clean up our D zone a little bit, just mainly just rest and get our legs ready to go.”