Quinn Hughes OT blast propels USA in olympic mens hockey quarterfinal — what to watch next
Team USA survived a late scare and advanced to the semifinals after a 2-1 overtime victory over Sweden on Wednesday, February 18, at the Milan Cortina Winter Games. Quinn Hughes finished the contest 3: 27 into 3-on-3 overtime to send the Americans through, setting up a Friday semifinal against Slovakia. The win capped a day in which the U. S. also added podiums in other events and nudged its overall medal total higher.
How the quarterfinal unfolded
The game was a tight, low-scoring affair that hinged on one dynamic moment in extra time. Dylan Larkin supplied the game’s first goal with a redirection in the second period off a point shot from Jack Hughes. For much of the evening both goaltenders kept the score level; Jacob Markström was solid for Sweden while Connor Hellebuyck made several key saves to keep the U. S. in front.
With the Americans clinging to a 1-0 lead late in the third, Sweden pulled its goalie to press the attack. Mika Zibanejad banged home the equalizer with just 1: 31 left on the clock, forcing a 3-on-3 overtime. That sudden-shift format is suited to speed and space — and it produced the decisive play. Quinn Hughes struck early in the extra session, finishing a sequence that broke Swedish resistance and sending the U. S. crowd home relieved.
Key performances, lineup notes and injuries
Hellebuyck delivered a composed performance under pressure, making several sprawling stops on dangerous chances and standing toe-to-toe with Markström, who was again tested and kept Sweden competitive with a high save total. The Americans leaned on the chemistry of the Hughes-Larkin grouping; Jack’s point shot produced Larkin’s redirection and the trio combined for the night’s decisive possessions.
Sweden was without veteran blueliner Victor Hedman after he sustained a lower-body injury in warmups. His absence altered matchup options and defensive depth for the Swedes. Sweden’s starter in goal showed why he’s trusted in big games, but the late empty-net sequence and overtime structure ultimately favored the U. S. transition game.
What’s next for Team USA and the medal picture
With the quarterfinal win, the U. S. men move into the semifinals and will face Slovakia on Friday. The victory also arrives as Team USA’s broader delegation continues to pile up hardware at these Games; American athletes earned medals across multiple sports earlier in the day, keeping the national total buoyant.
Beyond hockey, Americans on the slopes and in the snow produced notable results: a snowboard slopestyle podium performance, a cross-country team sprint silver, and a dominant slalom gold in the women’s alpine program, among other highlights. The men’s and women’s curling teams remain in round-robin play with matches scheduled against Great Britain and other top squads as the tournament progresses toward knockouts.
For the hockey side, the U. S. will spend the rest of Thursday preparing for Slovakia, studying film and shoring up special-team details that can make the difference in single-elimination play. The overtime triumph provides momentum and a reminder that these matchups can pivot on one high-skill play or a late-game swing. Friday’s semifinal will determine whether this American group can parlay that momentum into a spot in the gold-medal game.
The Milan Cortina Games continue to deliver tight contests and surprise storylines; Team USA’s men’s hockey victory Wednesday is one of several urgent moments that will shape the final days of competition.
