America’s goal song — Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Free Bird” — blared seven times over the arena speakers Thursday night. Twice the celebration only lasted a short time.

Recovery after the coach’s challenges nullified two goals, USA opened Olympics beating Latvia 5-1 in a dominant showcase of some of the best NHL players in the country. Brock Nelson scored twice, four players each had two assists, and there was production up and down the lineup.

“We believe in the depth we have,” winger Jake Guentzel said. “There are good players on every line. That’s exactly where American hockey is right now.”

After a strange first period with several video reviews and an equalizing goal by Latvia, the Americans found their groove and hardly gave the puck to their opponents for a long time. The USA outshot Latvia 38-18 and needed starter Connor Hellebuyck to make just 17 saves.

“I felt like we controlled the game,” center Jack Eichel said. “We’re going to keep getting better every game in this tournament, every period in this tournament. That’s our goal and it’s a good start for us.”

Elvis Merzlikins was under siege at the other end, and after Nelson’s second goal, he sat in the crease with his head in his lap. The flurry of oddballs became a version of the Harlem Globetrotters on the ice with pass after pass: Jack Hughes to brother Quinn to Matthew Tkachuk, back to Jack and then to Nelson who hit a half-open net with 11.1 seconds left in the second period.

“I don’t think there’s much to do,” Merzlikins said. “If that guy didn’t score, the other guy probably would because I felt like there were two guys wide open, and it’s hard to save something like that.”

Brady Tkachuk scored the USA’s first goal of the tournament less than six minutes in and Tage Thompson made a nifty backhander on the power play, making coach Mike Sullivan look smart for putting the 6-foot-6 wing on a loaded top unit. Four hits on 32 shots were enough to chase down Merzlikins, who was pulled to start third for Arturs Silovs.

Captain Auston Matthews welcomed Silovs to the Olympics with a power play goal, assisted by Eichel and Quinn Hughes. Each of them had two assists, along with Matthew Tkachuk and Jack Hughes.

“I just think the depth we have showed,” Brady Tkachuk said. “I thought everybody played a great game tonight. You just see the buy-in. You see the buy-in of every line playing the right way.”

Speaking to CBS News after the game, Jack Hughes noted that the smaller rink used in the Winter Olympics wasn’t much of a problem.

“Talking about it beforehand, you’d think it would be a much bigger deal,” Jack Hughes said. “You know, so the rink is pretty nice. I’m sure as the tournament goes on, the ice will get better. When you’re out there, size isn’t too much of a difference.”

Asked by CBS News about the NHL’s off-season during the Olympics and whether he believes Olympic hockey is better, Thompson said, “I just think it’s the best of the best, you know, I think anytime you take all the best hockey players and let them represent their country, there’s another level of pride when you wear your colors. And obviously, the intensity is heightened.”

USA plays against Denmark on Saturday night before the preliminary round ends 24 hours later against Germany.