Team USA is preparing for its first game of the Winter Olympics on Thursday afternoon against Latvia. The Americans practiced on Monday and presented some interesting line combinations ahead of their opener. Team USA is hoping to go one step further than their Four Nations Faceoff performance, which they lost to Team Canada in overtime.
Many American hockey fans have been putting together hypothetical lineups. However, the time to see the real lineups may be at hand. These may not be the final lines that skate out when the United States plays Latvia. However, this could be a good framework for what we may see.
Let’s take a look at the Team USA line combinations that head coach Mike Sullivan and his staff put together for Monday’s practice.
Team USA Unveils Line Combinations from Monday
Sportsnet’s Kyle Bukauskas was at the Americans’ practice session, and his 32 Thoughts co-host Elliotte Friedman posted the groups from that practice. Here’s a breakdown of what the Americans trotted out for forward and defensive groupings.
This is what @Sportsnetkyle saw at Team USA practice
Tkachuk/Eichel/Tkachuk
Guentzel/Matthews/Boldy
Connor/Larkin/Thompson
Miller/Nelson/Hughes
Trocheck some rotating with Nelson
KellerHughes/McAvoy
Slavin/Faber
Sanderson/Werenski
LaCombe/HanifinHellebuyck in own net pic.twitter.com/3RnTxD5KD5
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) February 9, 2026
Forwards
One of the first takeaways is that brothers Matthew Tkachuk and Brady Tkachuk are on the top line, which is centered by Vegas Golden Knights pivot Jack Eichel. Team captain and Toronto Maple Leafs star Auston Matthews is in the middle of a line flanked by Tampa Bay Lightning winger Jake Guentzel and Minnesota Wild forward Matt Boldy.
On the bottom six, Detroit Red Wings centre Dylan Larkin anchors the third grouping that has Winnipeg Jets forward Kyle Connor and Buffalo Sabres standout Tage Thompson on either side. The fourth line is helmed by Colorado Avalanche veteran Brock Nelson, but New York Rangers pivot Vincent Trocheck rotated in for some shifts. Trocheck’s teammate J.T. Miller and New Jersey Devils forward Jack Hughes were the wings on the fourth line. Utah Mammoth captain Clayton Keller also worked into the lineup.
Defensive Pairings
The top pair for the Team USA line combinations saw Quinn Hughes joined by Boston Bruins defender Charlie McAvoy. That grouping has the potential for some offence and puck movement. The second pair is Carolina Hurricanes blueliner Jaccob Slavin flanked by Brock Faber.
In the last two groups, Ottawa Senators defender Jake Sanderson was joined by Zach Werenski of the Columbus Blue Jackets. The last pair had Jackson LaCombe of the Anaheim Ducks partnering up with Noah Hanifin.
Goalie
Defending Venzina and Hart Trophy winner Connor Hellebuyck was given his own net at Monday’s practice. The media asked Sullivan if that means the Winnipeg netminder is getting the start in the Group C opener against the Latvians.
Sullivan said, “take that however you want to.” This likely means that we’ll see Hellebuyck get the start in this important opening game. The Americans will have three games in four days, so they’ll likely need all of their goalies in the other opening-round games against Denmark and Latvia.
What It Means
Team USA has loads of expectations after getting silver at the Four Nations. They should be the favourites to win Group C. However, Germany, Latvia, and Denmark do have several of their own NHL players on their respective rosters.
The Americans start the tournament at 3:10 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. However, play starts Wednesday with Slovakia taking on Finland.
Main photo by: Winslow Townson-Imagn Images
