Quinn Hughes' OT blast sends U.S. into Olympic hockey semifinals
Quinn Hughes delivered the decisive moment late Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026 ET, ripping a slapshot in sudden-death overtime to lift the United States past Sweden, 2-1, and into the Olympic hockey semifinals. The victory sets up a Friday, Feb. 20, 2026 ET showdown with No. 3 Slovakia while leaving clear items for the Americans to address before the next round.
How the quarterfinal played out
Team USA took the lead in the second period when Dylan Larkin finished a rush to open the scoring, giving the Americans a 1-0 edge. U. S. netminder Connor Hellebuyck held the Swedes off the board for most of the game, finishing with 29 saves on 30 shots. Sweden’s Jacob Markström turned away 38 of 40 as the visitors peppered the U. S. goal throughout the night.
With Sweden trailing late in regulation and Markström pulled for an extra attacker, Mika Zibanejad beat Hellebuyck on a one-timer 6-on-5 with 1: 31 remaining to tie the game and send the contest to overtime. In the Olympics' 3-on-3 sudden-death format, the U. S. controlled the puck in extra time and Hughes ripped home the winner 3: 27 into overtime (6: 33 remaining) to seal the 2-1 victory and eliminate Sweden from the tournament.
The quarterfinal round in Milan proved frenetic: three of the four games went into overtime, while Slovakia cruised to a 6-2 win over Germany in its quarterfinal to advance. Canada and Finland complete Friday’s semifinal bracket, with winners advancing to the gold-medal game.
Fixes the U. S. must prioritize before Friday
Even with the win, the U. S. left the ice with clear corrective tasks. The late tying goal on a power play with the net empty exposed vulnerability in 6-on-5 coverage and late-game situational awareness — areas the Americans must tighten ahead of the semifinal. Maintaining discipline with a one-goal lead and avoiding giving opponents high-danger looks on the power play will be essential.
Special teams and puck management were central talking points after the game. While the U. S. generated consistent pressure and dominated possession in the extra session, the regulation sequence that allowed Sweden the tying chance highlighted lapses in communication and spacing when protecting a lead. The Americans will need to translate overtime puck control into cleaner execution over 60 minutes against Slovakia.
Goaltending remains a strength, but it will have to be matched by more consistent defensive detail. Hellebuyck’s 29-save performance kept the U. S. alive; preserving that level of goal support and reducing rebound opportunities will be crucial, especially against a Slovakia squad that demonstrated scoring depth in its 6-2 quarterfinal win.
What Friday’s semifinal matchup looks like
Friday, Feb. 20, 2026 ET brings the U. S. against Slovakia, a team riding momentum after a dominant quarterfinal. Slovakia’s offensive outburst against Germany showcased its ability to strike quickly and in numbers, meaning the U. S. must be ready for both transition speed and a physical forecheck.
Key matchups to watch will include how the U. S. defends the rush and responds to early pressure, and whether the Americans can avoid the late-game scramble that nearly cost them against Sweden. If Team USA can shore up 6-on-5 coverage, tighten passing in dangerous zones and maintain the puck possession that served them well in overtime, they will head into the semifinal with a clearer path to the podium.
The U. S. advances with momentum and a highlight-reel winner, but the calendar turns quickly: adjustments must be made in the next 48 hours if the Americans are to turn Wednesday’s dramatic escape into a run for gold.
