Team USA arrived in Milan with a singular purpose: to grab that gold medal in men’s hockey with a roster assembled from Stanley Cup winners and All-Star talent. After twelve years of NHL exile from the Olympic stage, the Americans had waited too long and come too far to let the opportunity slip. However, things got tense in their very first match against Latvia.

What should’ve been an easy preliminary match against the European nation became an exercise in frustration as the game stood 1-1 at the end of the first period. And the hockey fans in the United States? They are furious, as evident from various comments on social media. But what really took place that triggered the community so much?

As seen on the Olympics broadcast, not one, but two goals were denied to Team USA. Brady Tkachuk was the one to score the team’s first goal as Lynyrd Skynyrd’s Free Bird was heard all over the rink. The attendance in Milan also saw many from the United States who came all the way to cheer their hockey squad. This goal was possible at 5:29 following the assist of Brady’s brother, Matthew, and defenseman Zach Werenski.

However, it wasn’t long before Quinn Hughes put the puck in Latvia’s net, and then came the controversy. The goal was ruled offside by the referees. And this is where Latvia got back. At 7:25, Renārs Krastenbergs slotted the puck in Connor Hellebuyck’s net as there was an entire scramble before the American goalie, leaving him almost zero room to defend.

Things got more heated when Team USA got another goal disallowed, and this time it was from Brock Nelson, who was right in front of Latvia’s Elvis Merzļikins. However, the opposition’s coach, Harijs Vitolins, issued a challenge for goalie interference. According to him, Merzļikins had J.T. Miller positioned in front of him in the blue paint, a fact that was later acknowledged by the referees, and for this reason, the goal was not counted.

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And the American fans? Well, they were just frustrated.

A nightmare for the fans cheering for Team USA

The match was just in its first period, and Team USA fans already had enough of Latvia’s antics. “The USA v Latvia game is getting on my nerves already and it’s only the first period,” a comment read, capturing the community’s sentiment perfectly.

Calling out the European nation’s tactics on ice, this fan wrote, “So elbow to the head is OK. Latvia has unlimited coaches challenges. And they wipe 2 US goals off the board when 1 was inconclusive and the other was by the letter of the law.” However, this fan had a direct complaint towards the officials, stating, “These Canadian refs are going to accept any challenge Latvia makes.”

The goal interference pissed off many fans, as this comment read, “Latvia is a bunch of b****s. That wasn’t goaltender interference.” Similarly, this fan wrote, “Absolute bulls*** call on goaltender interference. F***ing Latvia had to pay the refs off on that one.”

With Team USA having a 4-1 lead at the end of the second period, it looks like the American fans can calm down a bit, as things will be decided between their team and Latvia heading into the third period.