SOCHI, Russia — Phil Kessel scored two of his three goals in the opening five minutes and became the first U.S. player to record an Olympic hat trick in more than a decade, leading the Americans to a 5-1 win over Slovenia on Sunday.

The U.S. is undefeated through three games in the men’s hockey tournament at the Sochi Games and with Sunday’s win earned an automatic spot in the quarterfinals.

“The most important thing is getting the win,” Kessel said. “We just gotta keep improving and keep winning games.”

Kessel scored 1:04 after the puck dropped, removing any thought the Americans would have a hangover after their emotionally charged shootout win against Russia on Saturday. His third goal midway through the second period made him the first U.S. player to score a hat trick at the Olympics since John LeClair did it on Feb. 15, 2002, against Finland.

Slovenia’s Marcel Rodman scored with 17.6 seconds left in the game, denying U.S. goalie Ryan Miller a shutout. Miller made 17 saves in his Sochi debut.

“Yeah, I definitely had some nerves,” Miller said. “It was an important game to ensure that we’re at the top of our pool.”

Ryan McDonagh scored about a minute after Kessel’s third goal to put the Americans up 4-0. David Backes gave them a five-goal cushion early in the third.

Kessel is the first American to score four goals in the three-game preliminary round of the Olympic tournament since Bill Cleary and Roger Christian in 1960.