Overview
- Latvia beat the United States 4-2 on Saturday with goaltender Kristers Gudļevskis making a large volume of saves while Matthew Tkachuk scored twice and two late empty-net goals sealed the result.
- The victory lifted Latvia into fourth place in Group A and dropped the U.S. outside a guaranteed top-four spot, leaving the Americans needing regulation wins over Hungary and Austria to retain a path to the quarterfinals.
- Group A is currently led by Switzerland and Finland, both unbeaten in regulation, while Austria also holds a top-four position that the U.S. could lose if Austria wins again in regulation.
- Latvia followed its upset by thumping Great Britain 6-0 on Sunday, a result that confirmed Great Britain’s relegation from the top division with one preliminary game left.
- With two preliminary games remaining on Monday and Tuesday, the U.S. no longer controls its fate because head-to-head tiebreakers and other teams’ results will determine the final quarterfinal berths.