usa hockey survives late scare, Quinn Hughes buries OT winner to reach Olympic semifinals
Feb. 18, 2026 (ET) — The United States advanced to the Winter Olympics men’s hockey semifinals after a 2-1 overtime victory over Sweden, a game that flipped from calm to chaos late in the third period. Quinn Hughes delivered the decisive strike 3: 27 into the 3-on-3 overtime, capping a tense evening that included a dramatic late tying goal by Sweden and a string of timely saves from U. S. goaltender Connor Hellebuyck.
Overtime and the deciding play
With the score tied after Mika Zibanejad pulled Sweden even with 1: 31 remaining in regulation, the game moved to three-on-three overtime where space and speed became the premium. Quinn Hughes finished a high-tempo sequence early in the extra period, skating into a shooting lane and firing the puck past the netminder to end the contest.
The goal came after sustained pressure by the U. S. in the overtime frame. Hughes, who has been a constant creator throughout the tournament, found daylight and executed with a veteran’s calm. Teammates swarmed the net in celebration, and the victory keeps alive the possibility of a North American showdown in the gold-medal bracket.
Late regulation drama and Hellebuyck’s backbone
The turning point of the game arrived with just over a minute to play in the third, when Sweden pulled its goalie for the extra attacker and Mika Zibanejad converted to tie the score. The goal erased a slender advantage established earlier by Dylan Larkin, who had tipped a Jack Hughes point shot to give the U. S. a 1-0 lead midway through the second period.
Throughout the night, Connor Hellebuyck was the steadying force for the Americans, stopping 28 of 29 shots. He denied multiple high-danger chances from Sweden’s top forwards, including a handful of Grade-A chances that could have swung momentum. Hellebuyck’s composure on the breakaways and rush plays kept his team in front until the late tying goal, and his performance in overtime set the stage for the offensive breakthrough that followed.
Dylan Larkin described the closing moments of regulation as the most nervous he’s felt in a hockey game, an apt summary for a finish that saw both teams trade heavy chances and a final, heart-stopping equalizer. The U. S. team regrouped quickly after the equalizer, settling into an aggressive posture in overtime that produced the winner.
What’s next: a stern test against Slovakia
The U. S. will face Slovakia in a semifinal on Friday (ET). Slovakia has played with remarkable cohesion and urgency in the tournament, pushing every opponent into tight-checking contests. Quinn Hughes warned that the matchup will demand full attention: the Slovaks are fast, competitive and play like it’s a Game 7 every night.
From a roster standpoint, the Americans will ride momentum but also must address defensive clarity in high-pressure moments and maintain Hellebuyck’s level between the pipes. Special teams execution and discipline will be critical; games at this stage hinge on detail and the ability to convert limited chances.
For now, the win offers a mixture of relief and motivation. The U. S. navigated a late scare, leaned on goaltending and timely offense, and will now turn its focus to a semifinal that looms as one of the tournament’s tougher tests. The team’s players and staff have little time to rest—the short Olympic turnaround will require quick recovery and a fast re-focus ahead of Friday’s matchup (ET).
