Quinn Hughes OT Winner Sends Team USA Into Semifinals in Olympic Mens Hockey
Quinn Hughes finished a tense quarterfinal duel with a 3-on-3 overtime winner, lifting the United States to a 2-1 victory over Sweden and into the semifinals of the Olympic mens hockey tournament. The decisive play came 3: 27 into overtime and capped a game defined by goaltending brilliance, late drama and the absence of one Swedish stalwart.
Overtime heroics and the late equalizer
The U. S. took the lead midway through the second period when Dylan Larkin redirected a point-blank chance past Sweden’s netminder. Larkin’s goal came after sustained pressure and a sharp one-timer from the point that created the opportunity. The Americans protected that lead deep into the third, only to concede with 1: 31 left on the clock when Sweden pulled its goalie and Mika Zibanejad found the empty net to force overtime.
In the 3-on-3 extra session, Quinn Hughes seized the moment. Working with space and pace, he drove the attack, created an opening and finished with a high-quality shot 3: 27 into overtime, sending the U. S. bench and traveling fans into celebration. The goal ended a knockout-style matchup in which both teams leaned on their veteran cores to grind out a close, low-scoring affair.
Goaltending duel, lineup notes and what's next
Netminders were the story for much of the night. The United States’ starter stood tall throughout regulation, making timely saves on several dangerous rushes and breakaways. Sweden’s Jacob Markström was exceptional as well, turning aside 37 shots and keeping his team within striking distance until the final second of regulation and through the opening minutes of overtime.
Sweden was notably shorthanded before the opening faceoff when a veteran defenseman was ruled out with a lower-body injury suffered in warmups. His absence altered defensive matchups and forced adjustments that the U. S. sought to exploit, particularly in traffic around the crease.
Lucas Raymond finished with multiple shots and several high-danger chances for Sweden, while other top names on both sides logged heavy minutes in a game that frequently tilted into tight, physical sequences. The American coaching staff praised the team’s resilience after playing a compact, disciplined defensive game and striking when their chances arrived.
With the victory, the U. S. advances to face Slovakia in the semifinals on Friday (ET). The win keeps the American side on track for a medal run and sets up a matchup against a Slovak squad that has been one of the tournament’s surprise performers. The U. S. coaching staff signaled a quick turnaround in preparation, emphasizing recovery and schematic tweaks for a short-notice opponent.
Beyond the immediate advancement, the game highlighted how single moments—an overtime rush, a redirection in traffic, an empty-net equalizer—can swing an Olympic tournament built on margin-tight games. For Sweden, the loss is a bitter exit from a roster that arrived among the favorites and will now regroup and evaluate for future international duty. For the U. S., the win is both vindication and a fresh challenge: maintaining focus against Slovakia and keeping the hot goaltending and opportunistic scoring rolling into the medal rounds.
Officials will finalize semifinal scheduling and broadcast windows, but teams and fans are already turning their attention to Friday’s showdown (ET), where the stakes only grow higher.
