Quinn Hughes' overtime wrist shot beats Sweden, sends U.S. to Olympic semifinals

In Milan, quinn hughes produced the decisive play—an overtime wrist shot that lifted the United States past Sweden 2-1 and into the Olympic semifinals against Slovakia, preserving American medal hopes and extending the team's unblemished run in the tournament.

Quinn Hughes' overtime finish: how the winning play unfolded

The game-winner came with 6: 33 remaining in extra time. The puck sat atop the left faceoff circle; after looking for an open teammate and finding none, he created space by moving toward the goal and fired a rising wrist shot that climbed past Jacob Markström's left glove. The shot's pace and trajectory were the final image in a tight, tense matchup that went the distance.

After the play, he described the feeling as relief and emphasized enjoying the moment with his teammates while seeking to extend the team's run. He also spoke directly about his pride in representing the United States at the tournament.

What the 2-1 victory means for Team USA and next steps

The win kept the Americans perfect in the event at 4-0 and set up a semifinal meeting with Slovakia. A victory there would guarantee the United States a medal for the first time since the 2010 Winter Games; a loss would send the team into the bronze-medal game. The Americans may still face a familiar rival in the final, since Canada also advanced in overtime earlier in the tournament.

The match was the team's toughest test to date. Sweden was one of three squads made up entirely of NHL players, and both goaltenders were strong in the early stages: Markström and U. S. netminder Connor Hellebuyck produced key saves in a scoreless first period that kept the game tight into the second stanza.

Key moments and timeline

• First period: scoreless; both goalies made important saves.
• Second period (8: 57 remaining): Jack Hughes fired from inside the blue line; Dylan Larkin deflected the puck midair past Markström to put the U. S. ahead 1-0.
• Late in regulation (just over one minute remaining): Sweden pulled its goalie for an extra attacker; Lucas Raymond fed Mika Zibanejad on a cross-ice pass and Zibanejad one-timed the puck into the net to tie the game.
• Overtime (6: 33 remaining): quinn hughes moved into space and released the rising wrist shot that beat Markström, ending the game at 2-1 and advancing the U. S. to the semifinals.

Outlook: challenges ahead and team mindset

Teammates emphasized that, while the win was important, the path forward remains difficult. One teammate described the victory as meaningful but warned that Slovakia is performing well and presents a dangerous challenge. The group signaled a desire to avoid overtime in the next match but also conveyed confidence in the roster's ability to finish games if extra time is needed.

For now, the focus shifts quickly to preparation for the semifinal in Milan. The overtime finish underscored the thin margins at this stage of the tournament and left the Americans buoyed by momentum as they pursue the program's first Olympic hockey medal in more than a decade.