usa hockey: Quinn Hughes' OT winner sends U.S. past Sweden into Olympic semifinals
Quinn Hughes ended a tense quarterfinal on day 12 of the Winter Olympics, scoring 3: 27 into 3-on-3 overtime to lift the United States to a 2-1 victory over Sweden. The win advances the Americans to the semifinals, where they will face Slovakia on Friday (ET).
Overtime drama and a late Swedish equalizer
The decisive sequence came early in the extra frame when the U. S. capitalized on the open ice of the 3-on-3 format. Hughes finished a scramble with a precise play that settled a match dominated by exceptional goaltending and tight defensive play. Earlier, Dylan Larkin provided the game's opening goal midway through the second period, redirecting a Jack Hughes one-timer from the point for a point-blank finish.
Sweden pulled its goaltender late in the third to press for the equalizer and Mika Zibanejad succeeded with just 1: 31 remaining, knotting the game at 1-1 and forcing overtime. That extra-attacker goal spoiled a shutout bid but set the stage for the sudden-death finish.
Goalies, stars and key absences shaped a tight contest
Goaltending was the headline of this quarterfinal. Jacob Markström started for Sweden despite playing the night before and finished with a team-high 37 saves, keeping his country alive through heavy pressure. On the other end, Connor Hellebuyck matched Markström with a composed performance and made several big saves, including stopping a dangerous breakaway and multiple point-blank chances from Sweden’s top rush threats.
Sweden also battled without a veteran defenseman who missed the game after suffering a lower-body injury in warmups; that absence changed matchups and left the lineup shorthanded on experience. That same player had earlier missed nearly two months with an elbow issue, a reminder of his long road back to full health.
Lucas Raymond created consistent pressure for Sweden, finishing with five shots and multiple dangerous looks. Oliver Ekman-Larsson sprung him on a late first-period breakaway, but Hellebuyck made the save. Daniel and forward lines traded momentum, but it was Larkin’s redirection that eventually broke the deadlock for the U. S.
What this means next for USA hockey
Head coach Mike Sullivan praised his players after the win, calling it a great hockey game and expressing pride in the group's effort. The Americans will have little downtime before preparing for Slovakia in the semifinal on Friday (ET), a matchup that will test their depth and ability to recover physically and mentally from a high-intensity overtime battle.
Key takeaways from the win: the U. S. blue line found ways to limit Sweden’s elite forwards despite the loss of a top defenseman; goaltending kept the contest within reach; and a clutch playmaker in Quinn Hughes delivered when the margin was smallest. The victory also highlighted the chemistry among the top American forwards — including the contributions of the Hughes brothers and Dylan Larkin — a pairing that generated high-quality chances throughout the tournament.
With momentum from a gritty quarterfinal victory, the U. S. will enter the semifinal with confidence but must be prepared for another tight, defensively driven game. Special teams, goaltender form, and the health of key players will likely determine who advances to the gold-medal game.
