usa mens hockey next game: U.S. advances past Sweden, now set to face Slovakia in Olympic semifinal at 3:10 p.m. ET
Team USA's men's ice hockey team moved through the playoff gauntlet and will play Slovakia in the Olympic semifinal at Santagiulia Arena, scheduled for 3: 10 p. m. ET. The win that punched the U. S. ticket came in dramatic fashion — a 2-1 overtime victory over Sweden — and now puts the Americans one step from the medal round and three days away from the tournament's gold-medal final on Feb. 22.
How the U. S. got here: suffocating defense, tight margins
The Americans advanced out of the quarterfinals by grinding out a 2-1 overtime win against Sweden. The result underscored a defensive identity that has defined this U. S. squad throughout the tournament: low-scoring games decided by structure, goaltending and timely execution. Analysts have flagged that defensive strength as a primary reason the team remains among the favorites for an Olympic medal.
That tight defensive posture helped the U. S. weather pressure in the final minutes of regulation and carry momentum into overtime. The victory highlights a recurring theme of these Games — close, physical contests where one play can tilt a matchup and where resilience is as valuable as firepower.
usa mens hockey next game: Slovakia awaits at 3: 10 p. m. ET — what to expect
The next opponent, Slovakia, arrives in the semifinal with quiet momentum and a roster that has surprised larger hockey nations in Milan Cortina. The matchup is scheduled for 3: 10 p. m. ET at Santagiulia Arena. For the U. S., this is a classic test: can the team’s shutdown defense contain an opponent that has leaned on opportunistic scoring and national depth to advance?
Coaches stressed that adjustments after the Sweden game will be critical. The U. S. will need to maintain its defensive structure while finding ways to generate cleaner chances against a Slovakian penalty kill and transition game that has proven effective. Special teams and goaltending could decide which side advances to the gold-medal final on Feb. 22.
Beyond tactical matchups, this game has broader stakes: a win sends the United States into the Olympic gold-medal tilt, while a loss drops the team into the bronze-medal contest. With such a compressed timeline, recovery, line deployment and matchup decisions will matter as much as on-ice execution.
Schedule implications, women's note and viewing
The men's bracket continues to move quickly. The Olympic gold-medal final is scheduled for Sunday, Feb. 22, meaning semifinal winners will have just a short turnaround before the championship game. Meanwhile, the U. S. women's squad has already guaranteed a medal and will meet Canada in the gold-medal game Thursday at 1: 10 p. m. ET — a marquee rivalry that marks the seventh time those two programs have met for Olympic gold.
Fans should expect comprehensive coverage from broadcasters and streaming partners carrying the Games, with every men's and women's hockey game available across the event’s television and streaming windows. With the men's semifinal set for 3: 10 p. m. ET, viewers can plan for a full afternoon of Olympic hockey at Santagiulia Arena followed by medal-round implications later in the weekend.
As the tournament reaches its final weekend, Team USA's defensive approach and the ability to find clutch scoring will be the differentiators. The next game — Slovakia at 3: 10 p. m. ET — will reveal whether this U. S. group can sustain its form and secure a spot in the gold-medal final.
