Milan OT Thriller: quinn hughes Delivers for Team USA, Sends Americans to Semifinal
MILAN — Quinn Hughes finished off a tense Olympic quarterfinal in sudden death, sliding a decisive shot into the net in overtime to lift Team USA to a 2-1 victory over Sweden on Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026 (ET). The win keeps the Americans on track for gold and sets up a semifinal meeting with Slovakia on Friday, Feb. 20, 2026 (ET).
Overtime heroics
The game looked headed for a defensive slog until Dylan Larkin broke the deadlock in the second period, giving the U. S. a 1-0 lead. Late in the third, with Sweden pressing and their net empty, Mika Zibanejad ripped home a one-timer to force overtime and send the contest to a 3-on-3 sudden-death session.
Tension peaked in the extra frame. After several failed attempts, the Americans finally connected 3: 27 into overtime when Quinn Hughes unleashed a powerfully struck slap shot that caromed off the inside of the post and across the goal line. Teammates converged as the arena erupted — the sort of dramatic finish that separates knockout hockey from the exhibition slate.
Late drama and goaltending kept the game tight
With time winding down in regulation, Sweden pulled its goalie and capitalized to knot the score, producing a breathless finish. Moments like that underscored how razor-thin the margin of error can be in Olympic elimination hockey; even veteran players admitted the closing stretch was nerve-racking. "That's as nervous as I've been ever in a hockey game, " said Dylan Larkin, reflecting the emotion felt in the U. S. dressing room.
Netminding was a defining element for both sides. Team USA’s starter was especially steady under pressure, stopping the vast majority of Sweden’s looks and giving his club a chance to win late. Sweden’s goalkeeper also turned aside numerous quality chances, keeping the scoreline hinged on the teams’ few decisive plays rather than sustained offensive waves.
What’s next: a semifinal test against Slovakia
The U. S. now advances to face Slovakia in a semifinal on Friday, Feb. 20, 2026 (ET). Quinn Hughes was blunt about the challenge ahead: "It's gonna be an extremely hard test. They've been rolling. They're competitive. They're fast. Doesn't matter how many superstars you have, just the desperation level's so high. It's Game 7 every night now. "
On the other side of the bracket, Canada and Finland will square off in the other semifinal, and the winners of Friday’s games will meet for gold on Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026 (ET) — a date that carries extra resonance on the calendar. For now, Team USA takes a deep breath, savors a dramatic overtime victory, and turns its attention to preparing for a hungry and confident Slovak squad waiting in the next round.
Between the late equalizer by Sweden and the sudden-death finish, the quarterfinal in Milan produced the kind of playoff intensity that Olympic hockey aims to deliver: tight defense, exceptional goaltending, and a single moment of finishing that decided everything.
