Quinn Hughes OT Lifts usa hockey into Olympic Semifinals After Sweden Rally
Quinn Hughes delivered the decisive strike in overtime to send the U. S. men’s hockey team into the Olympic semifinals, a 2-1 victory over Sweden that mixed late-game drama with steadiness in goal. The win came after Sweden tied the game with 91 seconds remaining in regulation, forcing extra time before Hughes finished it off and the Americans immediately turned their attention to a Friday semifinal against Slovakia (ET).
How the U. S. pulled it out
The outcome hinged on a mixture of timely offense and elite goaltending. Mika Zibanejad’s goal with 1: 31 left in regulation knotted the score and sent a nervous U. S. bench into extra hockey; forward Dylan Larkin admitted it was one of the most nerve-wracking moments he’s experienced in a game. Despite that late surge from Sweden, the Americans regrouped and pushed the contest into overtime, where Quinn Hughes found the finish that advanced the team.
Netminder Connor Hellebuyck was the backbone of the victory, stopping 28 of 29 shots. His saves included a critical stop on a grade-A chance by Lucas Raymond in the second period that might otherwise have swung momentum. That combination of timely saves and a clutch overtime goal allowed the U. S. to survive a scare and keep medal hopes alive.
Areas USA must fix before Slovakia
Victory papered over a few problem areas that analysts and members of the team flagged immediately after the game. Turnovers in the defensive zone and lapses in late-game coverage directly led to Sweden’s game-tying chance; cleaning up those breakdowns will be essential against the high-energy, desperate style expected from Slovakia. Special-teams play also requires sharpening — opportunities in tight games become even more precious when one goal decides a medal path.
Former NHL forward Brian Boyle broke down the U. S. performance and emphasized the need for sharper execution, especially in how the team manages the final two minutes of regulation. The coaching staff and players have little time to recalibrate before Friday’s semifinal, and the message is clear: maintain the confidence from the win but tighten the details that almost cost the Americans the game.
Semifinal showdown vs. Slovakia (Friday ET)
Next up is Slovakia on Friday (ET), a squad the U. S. coach labeled a relentless opponent that plays every game like a Game 7. Quinn Hughes himself warned that Slovakia’s speed and competitive desperation make them a dangerous matchup regardless of roster star power. The U. S. faces a team that has been rolling at these Olympics, so composure and discipline will be at a premium.
Beyond on-ice matchups, the U. S. will need to manage emotions and fatigue after a tense quarterfinal. Canada’s result on the other side of the bracket kept the North American gold-medal matchup in play, but first the Americans must get past Slovakia to remain on that path. If goaltending remains steady and the skaters eliminate the late-game miscues, the U. S. will be a difficult out; if not, the margin for error in Olympic knockout hockey is vanishingly small.
For now, the immediate takeaway is straightforward: Quinn Hughes’ overtime goal and Connor Hellebuyck’s steady night preserved Team USA’s medal hopes, but Friday’s semifinal represents a quick test of whether the team can fix what nearly unraveled against Sweden and take the next step toward the podium.
