olympic mens hockey: Quinn Hughes OT Goal Sends USA Past Sweden in Quarterfinal
Team USA survived a tense, tightly contested quarterfinal in Milan Cortina, edging Sweden 2-1 in overtime on Wednesday, Feb. 18. Quinn Hughes buried the game-winner 3: 27 into 3-on-3 overtime to send the Americans into the semifinals, where they will meet Slovakia on Friday. The victory capped a defensive, goaltender-driven game that turned on a second-period redirection and a late Swedish equalizer before the sudden-death finish.
How the quarterfinal unfolded
The matchup had been billed as a marquee clash and delivered a cautious, playoff-style contest. The U. S. opened the scoring midway through the second period when Dylan Larkin redirected a point shot from Jack Hughes, sneaking a tip from close range that beat Sweden’s netminder. The lead held through most of the third, but Sweden pulled its goalie late and Mika Zibanejad slotted home an extra-attacker goal with 1: 31 remaining to force overtime.
Overtime was 3-on-3, and after several tense shifts in open ice, Quinn Hughes finished a slick sequence to end the game 3: 27 into the extra period. The result propelled the U. S. into the semifinals and eliminated a Sweden team that had been missing a key presence on the back end after a warmups injury.
Key performances and turning points
Goaltending defined the contest. The American netminder made timely, momentum-saving stops throughout regulation—most notably on dangerous chances from Sweden’s top threats—and kept the game within reach until overtime. Sweden’s starter was outstanding as well, making dozens of saves and keeping his team level after the U. S. strike.
Dylan Larkin’s goal provided the offensive spark for the U. S., and his chemistry with the Hughes line was evident on the decisive play. The late equalizer by Sweden, while dramatic, came against the risk the visitors took by pulling the goalie for the extra attacker. That gamble nearly paid off, but the Americans held long enough to reach sudden death.
Missing from Sweden’s lineup was a veteran defenseman who was sidelined due to a lower-body injury in warmups, a blow to Sweden’s depth and experience on the blue line. Despite that absence, Sweden generated chances and leaned on its veteran scorer to knot the game late.
What comes next
With the win, the U. S. advances to the semifinal round on Friday, where Slovakia awaits. The Americans will have a short turnaround to regroup, review video and sharpen their special teams for another high-stakes game. Coach Mike Sullivan praised the effort, calling it a great hockey game and expressing pride in how his group competed; he added that the team would enjoy the victory before refocusing on the next opponent.
For Sweden, the loss ends an Olympic bid that had flashes of the team many expected to contend for gold. The injury to a key defenseman and a narrow defeat in a single-elimination setting underscore how thin margins are at this stage of the tournament. Sweden will return home having shown competitive form but short of the result they wanted against one of the tournament’s premier teams.
Beyond the ice, the broader U. S. delegation remains strong in Milan Cortina, with the Americans adding to an early medal haul across multiple sports. But on the hockey side, this win provides momentum and confidence heading into the medal rounds, where every shift and decision will be magnified.
