USA hockey routs Great Britain at world championships: Highlights

The United States had some catching up to do on Sunday, May 17, entering the day in fifth place in Group A at the men's hockey world championships after its opening loss to Switzerland.

But a 5-1 rout of Great Britain, its second game in the seven-game preliminary round, moved the defending champion USA into fourth place. The top four teams in each group make the quarterfinals.

The game was close early and the British tied it in the second period on a power play goal. Isaac Howard broke the tie in the second with the first of his two goals.

The Americans' third line also stood out with Paul Cotter and Mathieu Olivier each getting a goal and two assists.

USA goalie Devin Cooley shook off a high shot and finished the game with 19 saves.

"You have to be willing to grind through games in these tournaments and I thought we did just that today," said USA coach Don Granato. "It took us a while to get rewarded, but we stuck with it and got three important points."

The Americans, whose title last year was their first since 1933, will face Finland on Monday (10:20 a.m. ET, NHL Network). Austria, Finland and Switzerland are tied atop Group A with two wins and six points.

USA TODAY provided live updates on the USA vs. Great Britain game. Here are highlights:

USA vs. Great Britain highlights

What's next for Team USA?

The Americans will play Finland (2-0) on Monday (10:20 a.m. ET, NHL Network). The Finns include Florida Panthers star Aleksander Barkov, who missed the 2025-26 NHL season after ACL surgery.

Final score: USA 5, Great Britain 1

The USA picks up its first win at the tournament and moves into positive goal differential. The Americans get two goals from Isaac Howard and the remaining goals come from the third line. Howard is named the U.S. player of the game.

USA score: Isaac Howard scores again

The USA connects on the power play and Isaac Howard scores his second goal of the game. USA 5, Great Britain 1

USA goes on power play

Alex Steeves is hauled down on a breakaway. It's called a penalty to Travis Brown instead of a penalty shot.

7 minutes left

USA leads 4-1.

USA goes on power play

Great Britain unsuccessfully challenged the fourth U.S. goal for goaltender interference, so it's called for delay of game. The British kill the penalty.

USA score: Americans get two goals in 15 seconds

Defenseman Declan Carlile scores on the USA's next shift. Paul Cotter and Mathieu Olivier get the assists and have three-point games. USA 4, Britain 1

USA score: Mathieu Olivier adds to U.S. lead

The USA third line comes through again. USA 3, Great Britain 1

Third period underway

USA leads 2-1.

End of second period: USA 2, Great Britain 1

Great Britain gets some chances, especially the Liam Kirk line, and ties the game on a power play goal. But former Hobey Baker winner Isaac Howard restores the U.S. lead, taking advantage of a turnover. Shots are 25-15 USA.

USA score: Isaac Howard restores American lead

Isaac Howard, one of two returnees from last year, scores after a British turnover to restore the U.S. lead. USA 2, Great Britain 1

USA goes on power play

Liam Steele is called for slashing. Great Britain kills it off.

Great Britain score: British tie it on power play

Nathanael Halbert scores on a shot from the point to tie the game. USA 1, Great Britain 1

Great Britain goes on power play

Connor Clifton goes off for high-sticking. Goalie Devin Cooley has to shake off a high shot by Liam Kirk. He stays in the game. Great Britain later scores.

Devin Cooley saves

Great Britain gets a chance off a USA turnover, but goalie Devin Cooley makes a shoulder save and gloves the rebound.

Second period underway

1-0 USA. Teams that score first are 10-0 through the first two days of the tournament.

End of first period: USA 1, Great Britain 0

The USA didn't score in the first game until the third period. This time, they get a first-period goal by Paul Cotter. Shots are 10-7 USA.

USA score: Paul Cotter gets opening goal

Paul Cotter comes through on the USA's third line. The Americans pressure and the Devils forward grabs a rebound near the net and scores at 13:55. USA 1, Great Britain 0

Game underway

USA's Devin Cooley vs. Britain's Ben Bowns in net.

USA vs. Great Britain: How to watch, stream

• Date: Sunday, May 17
• Time: 6 a.m. ET
• Location: Swiss Life Arena, Zurich, Switzerland
• TV: NHL Network
• Streaming: Fubo and certain tiers of Sling carry NHL Network.

USA world championships schedule

All times ET

• May 15: Switzerland 3, USA 1
• May 17: USA 5, Great Britain 1
• May 18: vs. Finland, 10:20 a.m.
• May 20: vs. Germany, 2:20 p.m.
• May 23: vs. Latvia, 6:20 a.m.
• May 25: vs. Hungary, 10:20 a.m.
• May 26: vs. Austria, 10:20 a.m.

USA lines

Great Britain lines