usa hockey: Quinn Hughes OT winner sends U.S. into Olympic semifinals
Quinn Hughes ended a tense quarterfinal with a 3-on-3 overtime goal, lifting the United States to a 2-1 victory over Sweden and a spot in the Olympic semifinals. The win capped a defensive duel and a late-game scramble that saw both goalies stand tall until the extra period.
How the game unfolded
The decisive sequence came early in overtime, 3: 27 into the 3-on-3 period, when Quinn Hughes found the finish that sent the U. S. crowd into a roar. Dylan Larkin had put the Americans ahead midway through the second period with a point-blank redirection of a Jack Hughes one-timer, a play set up by a winning draw from Larkin that springboarded the best chances of the night for his line.
Sweden, persistent to the end, pulled their goalie late in the third and Mika Zibanejad capitalized with just 1: 31 remaining to force overtime. That extra-attacker goal briefly erased a tense 1-0 margin and set the stage for the 3-on-3 ending that favored the U. S. breakaway speed and puck movement.
Goalies, key plays and lineup notes
Connor Hellebuyck and Jacob Markström staged a near-masterclass in goaltending. Hellebuyck weathered waves of pressure and denied several dangerous chances from Sweden's Lucas Raymond, who finished with five shots and multiple high-danger looks. Hellebuyck’s key stops early in the second period — including a one-on-one breakaway save and a blocker save on a backdoor chance — kept the U. S. in front until the late equalizer.
Markström, who started for Sweden despite appearing in a previous playoff-round game, made 37 saves and was a major reason the contest remained tight. His strong puck tracking and timely saves kept Sweden within striking distance until overtime.
Sweden was without veteran defenseman Victor Hedman after he suffered a lower-body injury in warmups, a loss that altered their defensive posture and matchups in front of the net. On the offensive side, Lucas Raymond's speed and finish repeatedly tested Hellebuyck, while other Swedish attackers created second-chance opportunities that kept pressure on the American end.
What's next for the Americans
With the victory, the U. S. advances to face Slovakia in the Olympic semifinals on Friday (ET). The head coach shared a succinct appraisal after the buzzer: “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. ”
Beyond the immediate celebration, the win highlighted the depth of the American lineup. Larkin’s goal continued a productive stretch for his line alongside Tage Thompson and the Hughes brothers — a unit that has been central to the team’s transition and scoring chances. The chemistry among players who train together in the off-season, particularly groups from Michigan, was evident in the timing and precision of key plays.
Defensively, the Americans will take lessons from this game: quick pivots on late pulls, attention to screens in front of the net, and maintaining discipline in overtime situations. Slovakia presents a different stylistic test in the semifinals, and the U. S. will have little time to adjust before the next knockout contest on Friday (ET).
The win over Sweden closes a chapter on a hard-fought quarterfinal and opens one against another hungry opponent. The road to the podium narrows, and the American roster will lean on its goaltending, depth lines and special-teams execution as it pursues an Olympic medal.
