The men’s Olympic ice hockey tournament will conclude its group stage on Sunday, and Team USA will look to clinch the No. 1 seed overall.
Team USA is in Group C alongside Germany, Denmark, and Latvia, and the USA already has lopsided wins over Latvia and Denmark. Now, Team USA will take on Germany at 3:10 p.m. ET.
Here is everything you need to know about the line combinations and starting goalies for both teams.
Team USA Line Combinations
Head coach Mike Sullivan hasn’t made any changes to his lineup through the first two games, but that now changes as Clayton Keller draws in.
Team USA forward lines:
- B. Tkachuk – Eichel – M. Tkachuk
- Guentzel – Matthews – Boldy
- Keller – Larkin – Thompson
- J. Hughes – Nelson – Miller
- Trocheck
Trocheck has been rotating in on the fourth line, as Sullivan has used those four forwards in different scenarios to create the fourth line. Team USA is also eager to play against Germany who present a challenge.
“They’re a good team. So are we,” Sullivan said. “We’re excited to compete against them. We know that they have some gamebreakers on that side. We have a lot of respect for how good they are, and it will be a competitive game.”
Team USA defense lines:
- Q. Hughes – McAvoy
- Slavin – Faber
- Sanderson – Werenski
- Hanifin
The USA’s blue line is a major strength of the team, and seventh defenseman Noah Hanifin scored against Denmark. The same seven should remain in their same roles against Germany and heading into the quarterfinals.
Who is Team USA’s Starting Goalie?
Team USA started Jeremy Swayman on Saturday while Connor Hellebuyck backed him up, as it was a surprise that Jake Oettinger still hasn’t dressed.
Against Denmark, Swayman struggled, and he was just happy Team USA picked him up to get a 6-3 win, after Swayman allowed a goal from center ice.
“It was a flash screen, and it was just the perfect height right between the stands and board level, and I truly lost it,” Swayman said. “Definitely one I want back, but at the same time, especially at this level, you’ve got to stay even-keeled. It’s one shot at a time, and no matter how they go in, you’ve got to step up and stop the next one. So just really proud of this group for supporting me and getting the job done tonight.”
However, Team USA will go back to Hellebuyck in the net against Germany on Sunday as he will likely start every game from here on out. Oettinger, will dress for the first time and serve as the backup as Swayman will be a scratch.
Hellebucyk is 13-16-7 with a 2.79 GAA and a .900 SV% in the NHL with the Winnipeg Jets this season.
Team Germany Lines
Germany is coming off an upset loss to Latvia, and now faces the USA as a big underdog.
Team Germany forward lines:
- Samanski – Draisaitl – Tiffels
- Peterka – Stutzle – Stachowiak
- Reichel – Michaelis – Kahun
- Reider – Sturm – Ehl
Defense lines:
- Wagner – Seider
- J. Muller – Wissmann
- Kalble – Gawanke
- M. Muller
Goalies:
- Franzreb
- Grubauer
Team USA is favored to beat Germany by 3.5 goals on Sunday. USA has already won Group C but is looking to be the No. 1 seed.
USA vs Germany Line Combinations & Starting Goalies Revealed