“Memory that’s going to last a lifetime”
“Not gonna lie, it feels pretty special,” the 26-year-old left winger told the media postgame. He went on to reflect on how proud and excited his 10-year-old self would be to score an Olympic goal, and in no small part due to his family and friends who supported him along the way, literally in Thursday night’s case.
“It was a great play by Matthew … probably the guy who’s arguably the most influential growing up and stuff like that. So pretty special,” he said.
“I was honestly like, are you really going to celebrate away from me right now?” Matthew said with a laugh, recalling the moment right after his brother’s goal. “Then I grabbed him. But to assist on your brother’s goal, to be the first goal [for Team USA] in the Olympics … that’s a memory that’s going to last a lifetime, that’s for sure.”
Despite the U.S. finding the back of the net on two more occasions in the first 20 minutes, Latvia successfully challenged – once for offside and then for goaltender interference.
In between challenges, Latvian forward Renārs Krastenbergs got on the scoresheet with a feed from Zemgus Girgensons (Tampa Bay Lightning). The teams entered their respective locker rooms at the break tied 1-1.
