MILAN, Feb 13 (Reuters) – The United States never lost heart even though two goals were disallowed in the opening period of its 5-1 win over Latvia on Thursday, coach Mike Sullivan said, as the Americans opened their Olympic men’s ice hockey campaign in Milan.
The US were level 1-1 with the underdogs going into the second period of their group match after the Latvians successfully challenged two of their goals, a frustrating start for the expected gold medal contenders.
“The energy on the bench is great and they are never deflated,” Sullivan said. “We just kept playing.”
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Defender Quinn Hughes had found the back of the net early in the match, but it was called back for offside. Another possible goal, this time by JT Miller, was later canceled due to goaltender interference.
Sullivan said this final call was a harder pill to swallow.
“It’s such a difficult call and that hit close to home for me… I don’t know if I agreed with the call,” he told reporters. “But it doesn’t matter what I think.”
NHL players have had to adapt their games in a short time after the league went on hiatus a week ago, with the sport’s global governing body taking a tougher stance on physical contact during the Olympics than in the pros.
For the first time since 2014, players from the top competition are again present at the Olympic Games.
“I think in the international game, in my experience, they’re a little stricter with that kind of stuff than they are in the NHL,” Sullivan said.
The US plays Denmark and Latvia plays Germany in Saturday’s Group C action.
