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Auston Matthews Says Team USA Should Compete for Olympic Gold

The NHL’s return to the Games marks his first Olympic appearance, heightening expectations after last year’s overtime loss to Canada.

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Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews likes the United States' chances of capturing gold in Milan at the Winter Olympics
Four Nations Faceoff fights last year like this between the USA's Matthew Tkachuk, right, and Canada's Brandon Hagel could raise the tension level for the Americans at next month's Winter Olympics

Overview

  • After practice Monday, the Maple Leafs captain said the United States is “up there” and should be in the gold conversation for Milano-Cortina.
  • Matthews agreed with general manager Bill Guerin’s gold-or-bust framing for Team USA, calling it a belief shared within the group.
  • The 28-year-old is a first-time Olympian as NHL players return to the Olympics for the first time since 2014.
  • His recent form includes an NHL-best eight 5-on-5 goals in January alongside nagging injuries and a three-game point drought.
  • He captained the U.S. at the 4 Nations Face-Off in an overtime loss to Canada and praised Oliver Ekman-Larsson’s Olympic selection for Sweden.