olympic hockey: Celebrini's OT heroics propel Canada into semifinals
Canada edged Team Czechia 4-3 in a dramatic overtime quarterfinal that ended late Wednesday night ET, punched a ticket to the Olympic hockey semifinals and left the tournament bracket reshaped. Macklin Celebrini's sudden-death winner capped a back-and-forth affair; elsewhere, Team USA survived a defensive grind with an overtime winner by Quinn Hughes in a 2-1 victory over Sweden.
Celebrini's breakthrough and Canada's path forward
Macklin Celebrini delivered the decisive goal in overtime to send Canada through and ignite a locker room that has been building momentum all tournament. The 18-year-old forward finished off a sustained offensive possession, converting on a quick feed to beat the goaltender and send teammates streaming onto the ice. The win required contributions up and down the lineup — veterans stepped up when needed, while goaltending and depth scoring combined to withstand a late Czechia push.
Canada overcame an early deficit and traded leads multiple times before Celebrini settled matters in sudden death. Postgame comments from teammates emphasized composure in tight moments and a belief that the group can match up with any opponent left in the field. With the semifinal set, Canada now faces a familiar international gauntlet where physical play and special-teams execution will matter most.
U. S. resilience, goaltending and the make-or-break margins
Team USA’s 2-1 overtime win against Sweden underlined how low-scoring, detail-oriented games can decide Olympic hockey quarterfinals. Quinn Hughes provided the heroics with a sharp finish in overtime, but the victory was also defined by stingy defensive structure and timely saves in regulation and extra time. The goaltender posted key saves in the final frame and in overtime to keep the contest intact until Hughes struck.
Players from the U. S. emphasized resilience after weathering strong pressure from Sweden, pointing to disciplined defensive rotations and calm puck management late in the game. Leadership on the blue line and veteran poise up front have become recurring themes for teams that advance in this tournament format, where a single mistake can undo 55 minutes of quality play.
Other quarterfinal notes and players to watch
The quarterfinal slate produced several standout performances beyond the marquee Canada and U. S. clashes. Key contributors from various teams stepped up in tight games — top scorers kept pace, emerging stars forced attention from opponents, and established veterans delivered clutch moments. A few veteran blueliners logged heavy minutes and made decisive plays in their own end, while a handful of forwards provided the finishing touches when games hinged on individual execution.
Looking ahead, goaltending will remain pivotal in the semifinals. Teams that can sustain defensive structure while generating quality chances will hold the edge in matchups where margins are slim. Expect coaching staffs to tighten match plans and lean on special teams and faceoff efficiency as they prepare for single-elimination pressure. Individual matchups — wing speed against veteran defenders, power-play puck movement against shot-blocking units — will shape which teams reach the medal games.
Late-stage Olympic hockey rewards preparation and composure. Celebrini’s sudden-death moment is the kind of highlight that headlines a tournament, but the deeper story is how collective effort, timely saves and defensive discipline have carried teams through the most consequential nights. With the semifinals set, the remaining games promise more edge-of-your-seat hockey as contenders chase the podium.
