olympic mens hockey: Quinn Hughes' OT winner sends USA past Sweden into semifinals

Team USA advanced to the semifinal round of the Olympic mens hockey tournament with a tense 2-1 overtime victory over Sweden on Wednesday (ET). Quinn Hughes finished the game 3: 27 into the 3-on-3 overtime to break a defensive, low-scoring affair and send the Americans through to face Slovakia on Friday (ET).

Game recap: tight tensions, late drama

The contest unfolded as a defensive grind punctuated by moments of high-end goaltending and split-second finishing. The United States struck first in the second period when Dylan Larkin redirected a point shot from Jack Hughes into the net — a finish that came after Larkin won a critical draw and created space in front of the crease. For long stretches the game hinged on a pair of elite netminders.

Sweden pushed back late in the third. With the goalie pulled for an extra attacker, Mika Zibanejad found the tying goal with 1: 31 remaining, and the regulation clock ran out on a back-and-forth finish. Extra time moved to 3-on-3 overtime, where Quinn Hughes capitalized 3: 27 in to convert a decisive chance and send the Americans into the semifinal bracket.

Jacob Markström turned in a heavy workload for Sweden, finishing with more than 30 saves and keeping his team alive into the final minute. For the U. S., Connor Hellebuyck made several key stops throughout the contest, including high-danger saves on Lucas Raymond that kept the score level during critical stretches. The goaltender duel underscored how narrow the margin for error was in this knockout-round meeting.

Key performances and storylines

Quinn Hughes delivered the biggest moment of the night, but the win was a collective effort. Larkin’s redirection provided the game’s opening tally and showcased his value on the net-front. Hellebuyck’s composure on multiple rushes and breakaway attempts helped sustain the U. S. lead until Sweden’s late equalizer.

Sweden’s lineup was missing a veteran presence when the puck dropped: a top defenseman did not play after suffering a lower-body injury in warmups. That absence was felt in traffic around the crease and in late-game matchups. Sweden still managed to generate chances — Lucas Raymond finished with multiple dangerous attempts — but the absence of top-four depth skewed some defensive matchups in favor of the Americans.

Jacob Markström’s performance was a standout for the visitors. He made dozens of stops and kept Sweden within striking distance until the final moments, but overtime’s extra space eventually produced the game-winning play for the U. S.

What the result means and what’s next

This victory propels Team USA into the Olympic mens hockey semifinals, where Slovakia awaits on Friday (ET). The win also removes a favored Swedish squad from gold-medal contention and gives the Americans momentum heading deeper into the knockout rounds. The roster’s mix of high-skill forwards, sturdy defensemen and a hot goaltender creates matchup problems for any opponent.

Postgame, head coach Mike Sullivan praised his team’s effort: "It was a great hockey game and I could not be more proud of our guys. We beat an excellent hockey team in Sweden. We'll enjoy tonight, and then turn our attention to Slovakia. " That short turnaround will test depth and recovery, but the roster now carries a significant confidence boost into the semifinal stage.

With knockout hockey underway, every game tightens the margin for mistakes. The U. S. has shown it can win close, high-pressure contests; Slovakia presents a different set of challenges, but Team USA’s late-game execution and goaltending provide a sturdy foundation for the days ahead.