OLYMPICS: Ice hockey-American chemistry propelling Milan campaign, says men's captain Matthews

MILAN — The United States men’s ice hockey team is growing in confidence, captain Auston Matthews said Sunday, after securing top spot in Group C with a 5-1 victory over Germany and advancing to the Olympic quarter-finals in Milan.

Expected to challenge pre-tournament favorite Canada for gold, the U.S. started the Olympics cautiously. They had a close 6-3 win over Denmark on Saturday before finding their rhythm against Germany.

On Sunday, the Americans dominated at Santagiulia Arena, outshooting Germany 37-24. Matthews scored two goals and added an assist, while the team largely ignored the German crowd.

“The confidence just continues to grow within our group. The chemistry is there, and we’re comfortable with one another, even with new players,” said Matthews, who plays for the Toronto Maple Leafs. “Each game, we’ve taken steps in the right direction.”

Although the U.S. topped their group, Canada claimed the top seed on goal difference, meaning the Americans could face a tougher quarter-final matchup. They are set to play the winner of a qualification playoff between Latvia and Sweden, with Sweden missing a bye to the quarter-finals despite being a gold-medal favorite.

“The most important thing for us is controlling what we can,” said head coach Mike Sullivan. “We focus on building our game and putting our best effort on the ice. We have a lot of talent, and we’re ready for the challenge.” -Reporting by Amy Tennery, Janina Nuno Rios and Giulio Piovaccari in MilanEditing by Toby Davis/Reuters