Mens Usa Hockey: Quinn Hughes' OT Goal Sends U.S. to Semifinals

Quinn Hughes scored in overtime to lift the United States past Sweden 2-1, advancing mens usa hockey to the Olympic semifinals and keeping a medal run alive. The late comeback by Sweden, capped by a tying goal with 91 seconds remaining, made the win pivotal; the U. S. now faces Slovakia in a semifinal Friday with a medal at stake.

Mens Usa Hockey overtime thriller

Quinn Hughes delivered the decisive play in extra time, sending a wrist shot past Sweden’s goaltender to end the quarterfinal. The winning strike came after Sweden had pulled even late in regulation when Mika Zibanejad scored with 91 seconds left. That late swing forced extra hockey and set the stage for the overtime finish that kept the Americans unbeaten in the tournament.

How the game unfolded

The U. S. took the lead in the second period when a shot from just inside the blue line was deflected into the net for a 1-0 advantage. Conner Hellebuyck anchored the American effort in goal, stopping 28 of the 29 shots he faced, including a high-quality chance in the second period that might have shifted momentum. Sweden created late urgency by pulling its goalie for a man advantage, and that decision produced the tying goal that forced overtime.

Overtime saw the decisive sequence when the puck left Hughes’ stick and climbed toward the net, eluding the goaltender’s glove. The game-winner came with several minutes remaining in the extra session and sent the U. S. through to the next round.

Semifinal test against Slovakia

The U. S. will meet Slovakia in one semifinal on Friday. A victory there would guarantee the Americans a medal; a loss would send them to the bronze-medal game. Quinn Hughes and teammates framed the upcoming matchup as a stern test: Slovakia has been playing strongly in the tournament, and the U. S. emphasized that desperation and competitiveness will be decisive in knockout play. "It's gonna be an extremely hard test, " Hughes said. "They've been rolling. They're competitive. They're fast. "

• Final score: United States 2, Sweden 1 (OT).
• Goalie performance: U. S. goaltender stopped 28 of 29 shots.
• Next game: U. S. faces Slovakia in a semifinal Friday; a win guarantees a medal.

Key indicators to watch before the semifinal include netminder form and how well the U. S. closes out late-game situations. The late tying goal by Sweden highlighted a vulnerability on late defensive adjustments; if that issue persists, it could affect the U. S. in single-elimination play. Conversely, the team’s ability to respond in overtime and secure the win is an observable sign of resilience heading into Friday’s matchup.

Unclear at this time are lineup changes or injuries that might affect the semifinal. The Americans will enter the next game undefeated in the tournament and carrying momentum from an overtime victory that preserved their path to the final if results align.