As the old Nintendo slogan said, "Now you're playing with power." The U.S. converted four times with the man advantage in a 7-1 victory over Latvia on Day One of the 2023 IIHF Ice Hockey U18 World Championship in Basel.

The Americans are seeking their all-time record 11th gold medal. They last won in 2017. They settled for silver in 2022 with a 6-4 final loss to Sweden in Landshut, Germany.

"You want to continue to build from Game One," said U.S. coach Dan Muse. "I thought we were building as we went through the game. And now it's going to be important for us to just keep taking steps as we're moving forward."

Underdog Latvia achieved an all-time best seventh-place finish last year, buoyed by a 3-2 upset over Sweden on Day One.

With defensive tenacity, the Latvians surprisingly dominated the scoreless first period, outshooting their favoured opponents 11-7. Goalie Trey Augustine, who started for the bronze-medal U.S. team at the 2023 World Juniors, stoned Rauls Ozollapa on the doorstep on Latvia’s first shot.

"We could probably have been in the lead in the first period," said Latvian coach Olegs Sorokins. "We had a couple of chances. Overall, the bad thing was the penalties. That ruined our game."

"I think in the first period we were trying to get going a little bit, get the nerves out," said the U.S.'s Will Smith. "After that we kind of stuck to our identity, and then it worked out."

Cole Eiserman, a top prospect for the 2024 NHL Draft, opened the scoring 59 seconds into the second period with a wicked power-play wrister from the right circle. The 16-year-old USNTDP sniper, who had 44 points in 32 USHL games this year, is the second-youngest U.S. player after fellow forward James Hagens.

"It was cool," said Eiserman. "Definitely obviously good to get the first one, for the team and everything. It felt good right away."

Near the eight-minute mark of the middle frame, Latvian starter Aksels Ozols foiled Eiserman on a breakaway with a glove save. But the U.S. kept coming.

Ryan Leonard's power-play one-timer doubled the U.S. lead just past the midway mark. His linemate Smith smartly tipped in Leonard's long centre point shot at 14:15 for a 3-0 edge.

At the end of the second period, Latvian forward Markuss Streikiss was ejected with a five-minute major for a hit from behind on U.S. defenceman Cole Hutson. It doomed the Baltic nation's hopes of a comeback. Hutson, the American power-play quarterback, was uninjured and finished the opener with three assists.

Just 22 seconds into the third, Oliver Moore's rising wrister made it 4-0.

The Latvians struck back shorthanded to spoil the U.S. shutout bid. At 1:43, Valters Niedrajs capitalized on a giveaway at the U.S. blue line and sped in to tuck a backhand deke past Augustine.

However, Smith restored the four-goal lead, scoring with a two-man advantage at 4:05. The top U.S. line of Smith, Leonard, and Gabe Perreault totalled seven points.

Sal Guzzo and captain Zach Schulz rounded out the U.S. scoring in the late stages. The U.S. now holds a perfect 4-0 U18 Worlds record versus Latvia with a 37-5 goal difference.

The Latvians will seek their first win on Friday versus Finland, while the U.S. gets a day off before taking on newly promoted Norway on Saturday.

"I'm really proud of myself, proud of the team for sure," said Leonard. "But I think we've just got to keep moving forward and be ready to go Saturday."