Elvis Merzlikins targets an Olympic shock as Latvia opens vs. Team USA

Elvis Merzlikins has his sights set on seizing the Olympic stage. The Latvian goaltender, a perennial showman in the crease, will try to backstop another underdog storyline when Latvia meets a talent-rich United States in the men’s hockey opener on Thursday (ET) in Milan.

Latvia’s belief runs through the blue paint

Latvia’s path to surprise runs straight through Merzlikins, who embraces both the pressure and the possibilities. “If we’re going to bring home medals from the Olympics, I don’t know what’s going to happen,” he said, imagining a celebration back home. “They’re probably going to build statues of our whole team. That’s just the dreams. We’re living in the facts.”

The facts, for Latvia, often start in goal. From Arturs Irbe’s heyday to Kristers Gudlevskis’s near-miracle against Canada in 2014, the nation’s international lore is filled with netminders stealing headlines. Merzlikins, now 31, carries that tradition with a self-challenging mantra: “Just go and enjoy, don’t even overthink, don’t get nervous. Just enjoy. What you got, Elvis? Show me. Show it to yourself what you have.”

Recent tournament history reinforces the upset template. A hot goaltender has already shaped the early narrative in Milan, where Slovakia stunned Finland behind a 39-save clinic. Latvia, buoyed by the euphoria of its first-ever World Championship medal in 2023, believes it can ride a similar current.

Team USA’s gold-standard ambition

The United States enters with momentum and expectation. The men’s program has surged in recent seasons: back-to-back World Junior titles, a razor-thin overtime loss to Canada in last year’s best-on-best showdown, and the end of a 92-year drought with gold at the World Championship in May. The target this time is clear — a first Olympic gold since 1980.

That ambition is matched by star power and cohesion, reinforced by the group’s shared experiences this week. Players have spoken about the collective energy of the delegation and the drive to add a defining chapter to American hockey’s rise. The message: the time is now, and the standard is gold.

A Blue Jackets bond turns into opening-night opposition

There’s an added layer of intrigue in the opener: Merzlikins will be staring down a roster that includes his club teammate Zach Werenski. The American defenseman, who finished second in Norris Trophy voting last season, made a point of soaking in the full Olympic experience before turning to the task at hand.

Werenski described walking into the stadium for the Opening Ceremony as a “pinch me” moment. “When you walk through that first ring there and you look up and see the rings, it’s kind of a ‘pinch me’ moment, to be honest,” he said. “It was just an incredible night.” With the pageantry behind him, his focus has shifted to crafting new memories on the ice — the kind that endure in Olympic lore.

Echoes of past upsets — and a warning shot

Latvia’s blueprint mirrors the tournament’s timeless lesson: an elite goaltender can level the ice. Gudlevskis’s 55-save stand against Canada in 2014 remains a touchstone for the program. The early upset by Slovakia this week was a real-time reminder for any favorite that territorial dominance can be undone by a locked-in netminder.

Latvia pairs that goaltending identity with a disciplined, counter-punching structure. If the game stays tight, Merzlikins’s athleticism and confidence — the very qualities that have long defined him — loom as the wild card.

Shared pride fuels the U.S. camp

Across the American contingent, the Olympic spirit has blended with competitive urgency. Men’s players showed up in force to support the women’s team earlier this week, and the admiration flowed freely. “Caroline Harvey’s like Bobby Orr,” said Matthew Tkachuk, praising the dynamic defender after a standout performance that showcased the speed and connectivity seen throughout the U.S. program.

That synergy — pride in the crest, buy-in to a fast, connected game — is what the Americans will try to impose from the opening faceoff. For Latvia, the goal is the opposite: slow the surge, frustrate with structure, and let Merzlikins turn pressure into belief.

What decides it on Thursday (ET)

- Goaltending variance: If Merzlikins finds his highest gear early, Latvia can drag the favorite into a one-shot game.

- Special teams: The underdog’s margin is slimmest here; clean discipline and opportunistic finishing are essential.

- Blue-line poise: Werenski and the U.S. defense will aim to feed the transition game while denying Latvia rush looks fueled by turnovers.

Under the Olympic lights, one locked-in goalie can change everything. Merzlikins has never shied from that stage — and on Thursday (ET), he’ll try to make it his own.

Sources consulted: NHL.com, The Boston Globe, USA Hockey team