The United States won Group C and obliterated the Germans, 5-1. While they're not getting the No. 1 seed (Canada is), they sent a message by defeating Germany and pulling away from them. The message? We don't need Jack Eichel to win the game for us.
Instead, they got goals from Auston Matthews (2!), Tage Thompson, Zach Werenski, and Brock Faber. Tim Stutzle had the lone German goal, but it was during the waning moments of the game. However, that's the only bit of bad news you'll get from this game.
While Jack Eichel didn't get a single point and only mustered two shots, Hanifin got an assist on one of those Matthews goals. It was the redirection from Jake Sanderson that went top-shelf, putting the United States up, 5-0. While the defenseman didn't have a single shot that game, it didn't matter.
The Boston native has quietly had a solid Olympic showing, giving the United States plenty of scoring. That's a good sign for America, especially if they want to take on the hockey monolith known as Team Canada. Considering that Team USA has had some problems to start, they could use a guy like Hanifin to carry the load.
Why Noah Hanifin scoring for the United States matters
The United States actually has a great defenseman group that can move the puck. Names like Zach Werenski and Quinn Hughes come to mind, giving the Americans an unexpected advantage against most countries. Yes, that even includes Canada, where the United States can simply transition a team to death.
On the other hand, Hanifin adds a goal-scoring element that can't be overlooked. He's great at finding redirections and sniping goals of his own. It's something that Golden Knights fans have grown accustomed to, especially during his three-year Vegas residency. Here, he's scored 14 goals and 57 assists in 146 games, adding offense from the blue line.
Sure, the United States might not have this advantage on the forward front compared to Canada. But it's not like they need it in certain instances, especially when you can get goal-scorers on the blue line. But that's not the only thing that the Boston native offers. He's also great in a two-way sense, providing defensive structure for the Americans.
Hanifin's two-game makes him a potent threat, too
Golden Knights fans know that Hanifin can use his size to take away those shooting lanes. That makes life easier for the netminders, whether it's Adin Hill or Connor Hellebuyck. That's why his Olympic work was equally impressive on Sunday.
Germany has numerous offensive weapons to lean on, ranging from Leon Draisaitl to Tim Stutzle. The funny thing is that they mustered one goal against Hellebuyck on Sunday, with shooting lanes constricted to death. Hanifin's to thank for this since he was all over the ice, taking away any pathway the Germans were thinking about.
The United States has some things to work out if they want a gold medal. They can't get off to slow starts and they must handle the puck better. It's something that Hanifin has seen during his Golden Knights' tenure, specifically this season. It's also something that he knows the team can overcome, especially if he chips in more points.