canada hockey: Marner’s OT winner sends Canada through as US survives Sweden in tight quarter-finals
In a night of razor-thin margins and late drama at the Winter Olympics men’s ice-hockey quarter-finals, two of the tournament favorites barely avoided upsets. The United States and Canada both required overtime to advance, with Quinn Hughes and Mitch Marner delivering decisive goals that kept their teams alive in the medal chase. Canada also suffered an early blow when captain Sidney Crosby left with an injury.
United States edges Sweden in overtime
The US leaned on its blue-line stars and a late heroic moment from Quinn Hughes to stave off elimination. Dylan Larkin opened the scoring in regulation when a Jack Hughes shot was tipped in by Larkin for the only US marker in 60 minutes. Sweden rallied late: Mika Zibanejad tied the game with 91 seconds remaining in the third period, sending the match to overtime and a nervy American dressing room.
Quinn Hughes, who had conceded the late equalizer, made amends less than four minutes into the extra period with the sudden-death winner that put the US into the semifinals. “Just relief, ” Hughes said after the game. The victory sets up a semi-final clash with Slovakia on Friday night (ET), and leaves the American side to regroup quickly after a match that tested their depth and composure under pressure.
Canada rallies past Czechia but loses Sidney Crosby
Canada’s path to the semis was equally fraught. The Canadians trailed twice and needed a late Nick Suzuki deflection with 3: 27 left in regulation to force extra time. Suzuki threaded the puck out to the point, followed a Devon Toews shot to the net and redirected it past the goaltender to knot the score and extend Canada’s stay in the tournament.
Macklin Celebrini and Nathan MacKinnon also found the scoresheet for Canada, but the drama of the night centered on two high-stakes moments. With 70 seconds left in regulation, Jordan Binnington turned away a breakaway attempt from David Pastrnak, a save that proved pivotal in sending the game to overtime. Then Mitch Marner finished the job 1: 22 into 3-on-3 overtime with a backhander that finally broke Czech resistance and launched scenes of relief among Canadian players and coaches.
But the win came at a cost. Five minutes into the second period, Sidney Crosby’s right leg buckled as he braced for a hit from Czech defenseman Radko Gudas and he left the ice after being driven into the boards. Crosby did not return. Head coach Jon Cooper acknowledged the team’s depth but admitted the injury was a worrying development for the roster. “Everybody had complete faith in whoever was going over the boards, ” Cooper said, while defenseman Drew Doughty added, “I never had a doubt, but it was getting a little nerve-racking. ”
Cooper lauded Marner’s knack for clutch plays. “It’s the it-factor, man: Mitch Marner’s got it, ” Cooper said. “He doesn’t disappoint. ” Canada, which holds the record for most Olympic gold medals in men’s ice hockey, will meet Finland in the other semi-final on Friday (ET), still chasing another run at the podium despite the late scares and injuries.
What’s next
Both North American teams face quick turnarounds and tougher examinations ahead. The US heads into its semi-final against Slovakia with momentum but also questions about closing out tight games. Canada must manage the fallout from Crosby’s injury and decide goalie and roster strategies after Binnington’s mixed tournament form and his crucial late-game save.
With NHL talent back at the Olympics for the first time since 2014, the expectation was that favorites would advance comfortably. Instead, Wednesday’s results underscored the volatility of knockout hockey: one bounce, one save, or one stoppage-time deflection can rewrite expectations and re-shape a country’s medal hopes.
