olympic mens hockey: Quinn Hughes' OT winner sends USA past Sweden, into semis
Quinn Hughes delivered a dramatic 3-on-3 overtime clincher to lift Team USA to a 2-1 quarterfinal victory over Sweden on Wednesday, Feb. 18. The win propels the Americans into the semifinals, where they will meet Slovakia on Friday, Feb. 20 (ET).
How the quarterfinal unfolded
The tight, low-scoring affair lived up to its billing. Dylan Larkin broke the deadlock midway through the second period with a redirection off Jack Hughes' point shot, giving the U. S. a 1-0 advantage. Sweden responded late in the third by pulling their goalie and converting the extra-attacker chance: Mika Zibanejad finished a play with just 1: 31 remaining to force sudden death.
Overtime was played 3-on-3, where open ice and quick transitions rewarded the team that could create a single decisive chance. That opportunity fell to Quinn Hughes, who finished a rush 3: 27 into the extra frame to send the U. S. through. The sequence capped a grinding game that featured elite goaltending and few clean looks for either side.
Goaltending duel and missing pieces
Netminders steered the game. Sweden's Jacob Markström was strong, turning aside 37 shots and giving his team every chance to stay alive despite having played the night before in a playoff-round match. The American goalie Connor Hellebuyck was tested as well, making several high-quality stops on Lucas Raymond and other Swedish forwards before conceding the late equalizer.
Sweden also played without a key veteran, as their top defenseman was unable to suit up after suffering a lower-body injury in warmups. His absence forced the Swedes to adjust defensive minutes and pairings on short notice, an added complication against a U. S. lineup that featured a number of NHL stars.
Key players, moments and what’s next
Dylan Larkin provided the primary offensive spark, finishing the play that led to the game's opening goal and showing the kind of timely finishing that has been a hallmark of his professional career. The Hughes brothers again combined to generate traffic and chance creation: Jack Hughes' shot produced the redirection and Quinn Hughes delivered the overtime finish.
For Sweden, Lucas Raymond was a consistent threat, creating several dangerous chances and drawing attention from the U. S. defense. Despite his line’s work, Markström’s performance kept Sweden within striking distance until the final minute.
Team USA head coach Mike Sullivan praised his players' effort in the postgame comments, noting the quality of the opponent and the team’s ability to close out the victory. The Americans will now turn their focus to the semifinal matchup on Friday, Feb. 20 (ET) against Slovakia, a team that presents a different set of challenges — speed and structure in transition play.
The win gives the U. S. a boost of momentum in the tournament, but the path to a gold-medal game still runs through more elite competition. Special teams, goaltending depth, and line matchups will be decisive over the next two rounds. Sweden exits with the disappointment of a narrow loss but with evidence that their roster depth and goaltending can carry them deep when fully healthy.
With the Olympic bracket tightening, every play and matchup decision becomes magnified. Team USA's extra-time triumph on Wednesday was a reminder that in international tournament hockey, a single moment of individual skill or a timely defensive stop can change the course of the Games.
