quinn hughes lifts Team USA to OT semifinal win over Sweden
MILAN — Quinn Hughes scored the sudden-death winner late in overtime to send Team USA into the men's Olympic hockey semifinals after a tense 2-1 victory over Sweden on Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026 (ET). The result sets up a Friday semifinal meeting with Slovakia and keeps American gold-medal hopes very much alive.
Late drama in regulation, then sudden-death finish
Both teams traded strong defensive periods and goaltending through most of the contest before Jack Hughes provided the initial breakthrough. With under nine minutes left in the second period, Jack Hughes unleashed a wrist shot that was deflected by Dylan Larkin and slipped past Sweden netminder Jakob Markstrom to make it 1-0. That lead held until the closing stages of regulation despite a growing Swedish assault.
Sweden intensified pressure in the third period, threatening repeatedly. A near-miss from Adrian Kempe clipped the post with roughly 2: 30 remaining, and Sweden eventually pulled Markstrom for the extra attacker with about 100 seconds to play. Ten seconds after the net came empty, Mika Zibanejad buried a one-timer from Lucas Raymond to knot the game at 1-1 and force a 10-minute, 3-on-3 sudden-death overtime.
Hughes seals it in overtime
The extra session began as a cautious chess match; the Americans failed to generate quality chances on their first five attempts. On the sixth shot of the overtime, Quinn Hughes ripped a strike that hit the inside of the post and crossed the line, ending the contest and sending the U. S. bench into celebration. The goalie in front of the American net had been stalwart — stopping 28 shots through regulation — and the team’s resilience under pressure proved decisive.
The win comes amid a dramatic stretch for the Olympic quarterfinals: out of four games played on the same day, three were decided in overtime. The American victory keeps the momentum with a squad that has blended veteran poise and youthful mobility on the blue line.
What’s next and bigger picture
Team USA will face Slovakia in the semifinals on Friday, Feb. 20, 2026 (ET); exact start times were to be announced. On the other side of the bracket, Canada and Finland also advanced through late comebacks, setting up a high-stakes semifinal pairing. The winners of those Friday games will meet for the gold medal on Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026 (ET) — the 46th anniversary of the original "Miracle on Ice. "
For the Americans, the path forward will require maintaining the discipline and shot suppression that frustrated Sweden while finding consistent finishers when chances open. Special teams and late-game composure will be cornerstones of any further push toward the podium.
The victory underscored Quinn Hughes’ knack for delivering in the moment and added an exclamation point to a tightly contested Olympic tournament. With the semifinals looming, the U. S. roster will have little time to savor the win before shifting focus to their next opponent.
