Quinn Hughes' OT Wrist Shot Sends Mens Usa Hockey to Olympic Semifinals
Quinn Hughes' overtime wrist shot with 6: 33 left lifted mens usa hockey to a 2-1 win over Sweden in Milan, sending the United States into the Olympic semifinals against Slovakia and keeping a first medal since 2010 within reach.
Mens Usa Hockey advances to semifinal against Slovakia
The puck left Quinn Hughes' stick and climbed past Jacob Markström's left glove at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena, producing the game-winner in overtime and putting the Americans into Friday's semifinal with Slovakia. The final score was 2-1, and the win improved the U. S. to 4-0 in the tournament.
How the game unfolded in Milan
The Americans broke through in the second period when Jack Hughes fired a shot from just inside the blue line with 8: 57 remaining, and Dylan Larkin deflected the puck in midair past Markström for a 1-0 lead. That goal stood until Sweden pulled its goalie late in regulation; Lucas Raymond passed cross-ice to Mika Zibanejad, who one-timed the puck into the net to force overtime.
The game was scoreless through the first period as both Markström and U. S. goaltender Connor Hellebuyck made big saves, keeping the score 0-0 after 20 minutes. In overtime, Quinn Hughes was given the puck atop the left faceoff circle, looked for an open teammate, then drove toward the net before getting the wrist shot off that beat Markström and ignited the crowd.
Players' reactions and immediate stakes
"It's just a relief, " Quinn Hughes said after the game, adding that he was "really enjoying being here with the group and the guys and trying to extend it as long as we can. " Larkin characterized the win as "great" but warned of the challenge ahead, noting that Slovakia is "playing well this tournament" and that the Americans didn't want to take overtime gambles in the next game.
The immediate consequence is clear: a U. S. victory Friday in the semifinal would guarantee a medal for the first time since the 2010 Winter Games; a loss would send the Americans to a bronze-medal game. The team will face Slovakia in the semifinal on Friday, keeping medal hopes alive after four straight wins.
Quinn Hughes' clutch finish — the overtime wrist shot with 6: 33 remaining in extra time — preserved the U. S. tournament run and set up a high-stakes semifinal in Milan that will determine whether mens usa hockey secures at least a bronze medal for the first time in more than a decade.
