Quinn Hughes OT Winner Sends USA to Semifinals in olympic mens hockey
Quinn Hughes delivered a 3-on-3 overtime winner 3: 27 into extra time to lift the United States over Sweden, 2-1, in the Olympic mens hockey quarterfinals. The victory sends the Americans into the semifinals, where they will meet Slovakia on Friday (ET). The game combined goaltending duels, late drama and a notable Swedish absence due to injury.
How the game unfolded
The contest was tight throughout, with Dylan Larkin breaking a scoreless tie midway through the second period when he redirected a Jack Hughes one-timer from the point. Larkin’s goal — a finish born of excellent positioning and a clean faceoff win — gave the U. S. a 1-0 lead that held into the late stages of regulation.
Sweden pulled its goalie in the final moments and struck back when Mika Zibanejad finished on the extra-attacker chance with 1: 31 remaining, forcing overtime and setting the stage for an intense 3-on-3 period. The sudden-death frame lasted 3: 27 before Quinn Hughes found the net and secured the win.
Goalies, key saves and notable performances
The goaltenders were central to this one. Sweden’s starter turned aside a flurry of chances and finished with a busy night, while the American netminder made a number of timely stops that kept the game within reach. One forward finished the game with five shots on goal and several high-danger attempts that repeatedly tested the U. S. goalie, but the home netminder stood firm on several rushes and breakaways.
Jacob Markström faced a heavy workload and made dozens of saves to keep Sweden alive deep into the third period. On the American side, the netminder showed calm on breakaways and on quick, traffic-filled plays in front of the net. Defensive lapses did surface — one moment in the second showed a Swedish defenseman giving Larkin a clean redirection chance at the net — and those small margins proved decisive.
Offensively, the U. S. depth lines created enough pressure to generate second opportunities and rebounds. The chemistry on the top American line was evident in the scoring sequence, where quick puck movement and a well-timed screen produced the opener. Sweden’s attack, featuring several talented forwards, produced chances in waves but could not convert enough before the late equalizer.
Implications for the tournament and roster notes
The win advances the United States to a Friday semifinal meeting with Slovakia (ET). The outcome further validates the Americans’ depth and goaltending under pressure, but the tournament is far from decided — a semifinal win will be necessary to reach the championship game.
Sweden's preparation was hampered by the absence of a key defenseman, who was scratched after suffering a lower-body injury in warmups. That forced a reshuffle of the defensive pairings and may have influenced matchups late in the game. Sweden still produced strong individual efforts and tested the U. S. netminder repeatedly, underscoring why they were considered one of the tournament favorites.
Postgame, Team USA’s head coach praised the group’s collective effort: "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. " The comment captures the immediate relief and focus inside the American locker room; attention now pivots to quick recovery and preparation for another high-stakes matchup on Friday (ET).
Key takeaways: clutch goaltending and opportunistic scoring carried the U. S. past a resilient Swedish squad; Sweden’s injury issues and late-game special teams situations will be examined before their next tournament challenge; and Quinn Hughes’ overtime finish provided the decisive moment that separates advancement from elimination in this single-elimination phase.
