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Team USA took about 10 minutes to settle into its second game of the Winter Olympics, but once it did, it was full-throttle.
On Saturday, Hilary Knight set an Olympic record with the fastest goal ever scored 53 seconds into the game. On Monday, the USA women broke another record when they scored the fastest three goals scored by an American women's olympic team (55 seconds). The previous fastest was 98 seconds; the second two goals were just eight seconds apart.
Monique Lamoureux, Brianna Decker and Amanda Kessel scored those three goals and the Americans didn't look back. The decisive victory and shaking off of early nerves were important as USA heads to play Canada Wednesday morning in the premier opening-round match up of these Olympics.
The Badger impact on this game came early. After the first period, Decker had one goal and one assist, Knight had her own goal and assist and Meghan Duggan added one assist.
As the game got further out of hand, the less you saw of both Duggan and Knight's lines. It seemed coach Katey Stone was giving some of the other lines some ice time.
Decker was once again a featured part of the commentator's discussion as Pierre McGuire called her the smartest person on the ice.
With Monday's win, USA is ensured of a top-two finish in its group and an automatic bye the semifinals. USA faces Canada Wednesday at 6 a.m. CT.
