Quinn Hughes OT lifts Usa Hockey into Olympic semifinals

Quinn Hughes scored in overtime to give the U. S. a 2-1 quarterfinal victory over Sweden in Milan, sending usa hockey into the Olympic semifinals and setting up a matchup with Slovakia on Friday.

Usa Hockey survives late Sweden push

The game in Milan tightened dramatically in the final minutes of regulation. Dylan Larkin opened the scoring with a goal in the second period, and Sweden tied the game when Mika Zibanejad beat goaltender Connor Hellebuyck with 1: 31 remaining while Sweden had pulled its goalie for an extra attacker. The tying goal forced sudden-death overtime and extended the U. S. run in the tournament.

Overtime finish and the key plays

The extra session was decided 3: 27 into overtime when Hughes ripped a slapshot past Sweden’s netminder to make it 2-1. Goaltender Connor Hellebuyck made several important saves through regulation, including a stop on a high-quality chance by Lucas Raymond in the second period, helping preserve the one-goal margin that Hughes would settle in overtime.

What comes next: Slovakia waits in the semis

The victory moves the U. S. into a Friday semifinal against Slovakia. Team USA will face the No. 3 seed in the next round; Canada and Finland meet in the other semifinal earlier that day. Sweden’s tournament ended with the quarterfinal loss.

Hughes called the upcoming game an "extremely hard test, " noting Slovakia’s competitiveness and speed, and stressing that every game feels like "Game 7" in this phase of the Olympics. The U. S. advance keeps alive the possibility of a North American final if Canada also wins its semifinal.

Friday’s semifinal is the next confirmed event on the schedule for the U. S. men, with Slovakia awaiting the winner of the quarterfinal in Milan.