That's more like it. Not yet 48 hours removed from choking away their Olympic opener, the U.S. men's hockey team got back on track Thursday with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Slovakia in preliminary group play — their first win in Pyeongchang.

Ryan Donato played hero with a pair of power-play goals, including the go-ahead marker scored 2:51 into the third period. The 21-year-old Harvard product, one of four NCAA players on the U.S. squad, showed he belongs on the Olympic stage, leading an American youth movement that has been the brightest spot of the team so far.

Donato's first goal came early in the first period when Troy Terry (Denver) dropped a pass to his collegiate counterpart in the slot. A second-round pick by the Boston Bruins, Donato put his slick hot on display, firing a wrister over the shoulder of Slovakia goalie Jan Laco. The Slovaks responded 25 seconds later and the 1-1 tie held until the third period, when Donato maneuvered in front of the net and beat Laco five-hole.

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Not bad for a college kid.

"Life's moving pretty fast right now," Donato said after the victory.

You think? Donato, Terry and Jordan Greenway (Boston University) have been the best playerson Team USA through two games, if not the most visible. Greenway, who turns 21 Friday stateside, is a 6-5, 230-pound behemoth who scored in the tournament opener and leads the U.S. in shots on goal through two games. Donato now has three points, and Terry assisted on both of his goals. Both play on the team's top line with veteran Mark Arcobello.

"The college guys that we have on our team have been doing really well, have been pulling their weight," Greenway said.

Instead of blowing the third-period lead, as was the case in Tuesday's stunning loss, the U.S. stayed true to its speedy brand of hockey and controlled play for the better part of 60 minutes, something they'd preached since fatigue and general unpreparedness led to the Slovenia setback.

The win puts the Americans back on track. They leapfrogged Slovakia in the Group B standings, now with four points in two games. If the Olympic Athletes from Russia defeat Slovenia, the U.S. will have sole possession of first and the inside track to a bye — a welcome development after the opening shocker.

Sporting News provided live scoring updates and highlights. See how the game played out below. (All times Eastern.)

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Final result: USA 2, Slovakia 1

Third period

12:29 — That's game. Team USA has its first victory in Pyeongchang and temporarily takes over the Group B lead with four points. If the Olympic Athletes from Russia defeats Slovenia, the U.S. will have sole possession of first and the inside track to a bye — a welcome development after the opening shocker.

12:21 — Some (ahem, Canada) were critical of USA's decision to include four collegiate players on its roster. The young blood has been the best part of this team, though. Ryan Donato, Troy Terry and Jordan Greenway are three of the Americans' most visible players shift in, shift out.

12:06 — USA kills off the penalty; Slovakia is 0 for 2 tonight. About 14 minutes to go.

12:04 — Still buzzing from the goal, Troy Terry heads to the box for high-sticking. U.S. back on the kill.

12:02 — GOAL. Ryan Donato scores the go-ahead goal on the power play, his second of the game. Team USA takes a 2-1 lead with 17:09 to play.

11:59 — Slovakia gets caught for too many men on the ice 2:44 into the third period. This will be a pivotal power play for the U.S., their fifth of the game (1 for 4).

11:55 — Team USA has 20 minutes to take care of Slovakia and avoid an 0-2 start in Pyeongchang. They’re tied 1-1. The third period starts now.

Second period — USA 1, Slovakia 1

Shots on goal: USA 25, Slovakia 13

11:41 — The U.S. is controlling play and the top line of Mark Arcobello, Troy Terry and Ryan Donato is on fire, but the Americans still enter the third tied 1-1. This is where it all fell apart against Slovenia. The difference: They had a two-goal lead then. They've been preaching 60 minutes all week, so now it's time to show it.

11:34 — Now it's USA's turn to kill a penalty. Jordan Greenway gets called for goalie interference (debatable). There's 3:37 left in the second.

Jordan Greenway's goaltender interference penalty pic.twitter.com/5WfQu4h7dn — Alec Gearty (@gearty83) February 16, 2018

11:31 — Slovakia's Michal Cajovsky is on the wrong end of a James Wisniewski one-timer. This after he was shaken up by a Jordan Greenway hit earlier in the period.

11:28 — Team USA heads to its fourth power play (1 for 3). There's 7:07 remaining in the second period.

11:19 — A Mark Arcobello wrister catches Jan Laco square in the mask. Ouch.

11:11 — USA is back on the power play — its third (1 for 2) — 4:49 into the second period. Milos Bubela caught for high-sticking.

11:07 — A point shot finds its way through a crowd, but no dice. Jordan Greenway, the birthday boy, mixes it up with the Slovaks in front of the net. All 6-5, 230 pounds of him will come in handy against Slovakia's big-bodied defenders.

11:02 — The puck has dropped on the second period.

First period — USA 1, Slovakia 1

Shots on goal: USA 9, Slovakia 7

10:48 — Well, there were some positive takeaways for the U.S. in the first 20 minutes, but it's the 1-1 score is less than ideal. They'll need to build a little cushion in the second period.

10:45 — An extended scrum breaks out in the Slovak crease after Troy Terry slips in and nearly finds twine. The Ducks prospect is flying around tonight.

10:42 — Bobby Butler with a golden opportunity. A beautiful pass from Jordan Greenway springs Butler, who was flying down the wing and had a clear shot. He's turned aside by Jan Laco's blocker. Still 1-1 with 2:16 remaining in the first.

10:37 — Mark Arcobello came a Slovak stick blade away from giving the U.S. a 2-1 lead.

So close yet so far pic.twitter.com/g8Bma8tbuk — Alec Gearty (@gearty83) February 16, 2018

10:36 — The kids are getting the job done for the U.S. NCAA products Jordan Greenway (Boston University) and Ryan Donato (Harvard) have two of the three American goals so far; Troy Terry (Denver) with an assist. Donato had an assist in the opener too. They're the spark plugs.

10:34 — USA is back to the power play. Ivan Baranka heads to the box for Slovakia 12:43 into the first period, all tied 1-1.

10:27 — GOAL. The U.S. lead lasted all of 25 seconds. Slovakia's Andrej Kudrna gets it back in short order on a rush the other way, a short-angle shot under Ryan Zapolski's arm. He would like that one back.

10:25 — GOAL. Ryan Donato rips one home on the power play from Troy Terry for an early 1-0 lead.

10:23 — USA heads to the power play 6:51 in. First of the game.

10:19 — More than 5 minutes in, the U.S. still hasn't managed a shot on goal. They've preached speed and getting the puck on net all week since the Slovenia upset, so this sure isn't how they wanted to start things off.

10:17 — Noah Welch just stood up Slovakia's Milos Bubela. He's asserted himself as one of USA's top defensive forces.

10:10 — The puck is down. Here we go.

Pregame

9:52 — And here are the lineups for both teams.

Full # teamUSA -Slovakia lineups. #GuysYouveHeardOf for Slovakia: 27 Ladislav Nagy

43 Tomas Surovy

7 Ivan Baranka

85 Peter Olvecky?

Coach Craig Ramsay pic.twitter.com/LySYeRz8wW — Stephen Whyno (@SWhyno) February 16, 2018

9:35 p.m. — USA and Slovakia have taken the ice in Korea.

Ryan Zapolski leads #teamUSA and Jan Laco leads Slovakia on to the ice for pregame warmups at Gangneung Hockey Centre. Laco made 35 saves to beat U.S. at Deutschland Cup in November. Puck drop 10:10 p.m. EST pic.twitter.com/76svoJQDci — Stephen Whyno (@SWhyno) February 16, 2018

Time: 10:10 p.m. ET

Location: Gangneung Hockey Centre

TV: CNBC

Streaming: fuboTV (sign up for a 7-day free trial)

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