Pittsburgh Penguins fans have gotten used to gritting their teeth and muttering Brock Nelson’s name under their breath.

The Colorado Avalanche forward has 40 points in 46 games against Pittsburgh, the most of any team he faced over his 13-year NHL career. He also has nine points (six goals) against them in 11 playoff games as a former member of the New York Islanders.

He developed a well-earned reputation as a Penguins killer during his time in New York. But many hockey fans in Pittsburgh were celebrating his performance Thursday. Well, at least those who are actually rooting for Team USA at the Olympics as opposed to backing Sidney Crosby and Team Canada.

Nelson scored twice as the American team won its preliminary-round opener 5-1 over Latvia.

The 34-year-old was also involved in two goals that were eventually disallowed in the first period. That kept the game closer than it felt after 20 minutes. It was tied 1-1 even though the American club could’ve had a two-goal advantage.

Nelson is an American Olympic legacy. His grandfather (Bill Christian) and great uncle (Roger Christian) were both on the 1960 team that won a gold medal at Squaw Valley. Another great uncle, Gordon Christian, played for the United States at the 1956 Winter Olympics, capturing a silver medal. Nelson’s uncle, Dave Christian, was on the 1980 United States Miracle on Ice gold medal team at Lake Placid, N.Y.

Nelson is on the team despite some controversy. Many felt he should’ve been left off the roster for a younger forward such as Cole Caufield or Jason Robertson. However, Nelson is off to a great start in this tournament.

Some other Pittsburgh-related notes from Team USA’s first game in Italy:

• Penguins goalie Arturs Silovs came on in relief of Latvian goaltender Elvis Merzlikins, who allowed four goals on 32 shots. Silovs stopped five of the six shots he saw.

• Former Penguin Jake Guentzel generated two shots but was held without a point. He was a minus-1.

• Upper St. Clair’s Vincent Trocheck had an assist on Nelson’s first goal.

• Former Coraopolis resident and Pittsburgh Hornets alum J.T. Miller didn’t have a point but was involved in both of the overturned goals in the first period, including having an assist to Quinn Hughes that came off the board.

Listen: Tim Benz and Brian Metzer talk about Team USA at the Olympics in their weekly hockey podcast