olympic mens hockey: Quinn Hughes OT winner sends U.S. past Sweden into semifinals
Quinn Hughes struck 3: 27 into 3-on-3 overtime to lift the United States to a 2-1 quarterfinal victory over Sweden on Wednesday, moving Team USA into the Olympic semifinals. Dylan Larkin opened the scoring in the second period, and Sweden’s Mika Zibanejad tied the game with an extra-attacker goal with 1: 31 remaining in regulation before Hughes ended the contest in sudden death.
Late drama and the decisive play
The game produced a tense finish. After a scoreless first period, Dylan Larkin redirected a point shot midway through the second to give the U. S. the lead. Sweden pressed in the third, eventually pulling its goalie and finding an equalizer when Mika Zibanejad finished on a scramble with 1: 31 left. The matchup went to a 3-on-3 overtime, where Quinn Hughes created the game-winning chance and finished through traffic at 3: 27 of the extra frame.
With the win, the U. S. advances to face Slovakia in the semifinals on Friday. The breakthrough was a team effort, but the overtime winner delivered the kind of sudden-death finish that has defined the knockout rounds of the tournament.
Goaltending duel and defensive storylines
Netminders set the tone. Sweden’s starter turned aside a heavy volume of shots through regulation and overtime, while the U. S. goalie made several timely stops, including key saves on breakaway chances and dangerous rushes. One American goaltender stood out for his resilience in tight moments; his positioning and reflexes kept the game within reach until the decisive overtime strike.
Sweden’s defensive group also had to adapt without one of its top blueliners, who was unable to play after sustaining a lower-body injury in warmups. That absence forced lineup adjustments and opened space that the U. S. attack exploited at critical moments. Defensive lapses on both sides were costly at times, but special teams and timely shot-blocking proved decisive in a contest where scoring chances were at a premium.
What’s next and tournament implications
The victory keeps the U. S. on the gold-medal path and sets up a semifinal meeting with Slovakia on Friday. For Sweden, the loss ends a run by a roster that entered the knockout stage with high expectations; the injury to a key veteran added an extra challenge in a matchup it had been preparing for. The Americans will turn quickly to recovery and scouting — short tournament turnarounds demand fast preparation — while building on the late-game poise they showed in this win.
Beyond the immediate result, the game highlighted a familiar Olympic theme: tournament hockey rewards timely goals, tight defensive structure, and goaltending that stands up under pressure. The U. S. earned its way into the final four by delivering in all three areas when it mattered most.
