MILAN, Feb 13 (Reuters) – The US by no means misplaced their spirit whilst they’d two objectives disallowed within the opening interval of their 5-1 win over Latvia on Thursday, coach Mike Sullivan mentioned, because the Individuals opened their Olympic males’s ice hockey marketing campaign in Milan.
The U.S. had been tied 1-1 with the underdogs going into the second interval of their group stage sport after the Latvians efficiently challenged two of their objectives, a irritating begin for the anticipated gold medal contenders.
“The vitality on the bench is terrific and so they by no means received deflated,” mentioned Sullivan. “We simply stored enjoying.”
Maryam Majd by way of Getty Photographs
Defenceman Quinn Hughes had discovered the again of the online early within the contest nevertheless it was known as again for offside. One other would-be aim, this time from JT Miller, was known as off later for goaltender interference.
Sullivan mentioned the latter name was a more durable capsule to swallow.
“It’s such a tough name and that one was a detailed one for me… I don’t know that I agreed with the decision,” he instructed reporters. “But it surely doesn’t matter what I believe.”
NHL gamers have needed to adapt their sport in a short while body after the league went on break only a week in the past, with the game’s world governing physique famously taking a more durable line on bodily contact through the Olympics than within the professionals.
Gamers from the top-flight league are again within the Olympics for the primary time since 2014.
“I do assume, in worldwide play, simply in my expertise, they’re somewhat bit stricter with that stuff than they’re within the NHL,” mentioned Sullivan.
The U.S. play Denmark and Latvia play Germany in Saturday’s Group C motion.
