Quinn Hughes' Overtime Wrist Shot Sends U.S. Past Sweden, Into Olympic Semifinals
In Milan, quinn hughes delivered a dramatic overtime wrist shot that lifted the United States to a 2-1 victory over Sweden, advancing Team USA to the Olympic semifinals and keeping American medal hopes alive. The finish energized a packed Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena and provided a major momentum boost for the unbeaten U. S. squad.
Quinn Hughes' late heroics
The deciding moment came with 6: 33 left in extra time, when Quinn Hughes received the puck atop the left faceoff circle. After looking for an open teammate and creating a sliver of space, he drove toward the net and unleashed a blistering wrist shot that climbed past Jacob Markström's left glove. The shot produced an immediate outpouring of celebration from Hughes and his teammates and ended one of the tournament's toughest contests for the Americans.
How the game unfolded
A scoreless first period showcased strong goaltending from both sides, with both Jacob Markström and Connor Hellebuyck making key saves to keep the game deadlocked. The breakthrough came in the second period when Jack Hughes set up Dylan Larkin; with 8: 57 remaining in that frame, Larkin deflected a shot past Markström to put the United States in front 1-0.
Sweden answered late in regulation after pulling its goalie for a man advantage. With just over one minute left, Lucas Raymond fed Mika Zibanejad on a cross-ice pass and Zibanejad finished with a one-timer to force overtime. The game remained tense until quinn hughes' decisive play in extra time.
Implications and what's next
The victory moves the United States to 4-0 in the tournament and sets up a semifinal meeting with Slovakia. A U. S. win in that semifinal would guarantee an Olympic medal for the Americans for the first time since the 2010 Winter Games; a loss would send the team to a bronze-medal game. The Americans could still meet rival Canada in the final if both teams continue to win through the knockout rounds.
Team response and atmosphere
Hughes described the result as a relief and emphasized the importance of the team environment and camaraderie. Other players stressed that while the win was meaningful, the tournament's single-elimination phase leaves no margin for error and the focus must immediately shift to the semifinal opponent. The dramatic nature of the overtime goal provided a clear emotional lift, but the group remains mindful of the work ahead.
What to watch in the semifinal
- Team U. S. goaltending and whether Connor Hellebuyck can replicate his key saves from this game.
- How the U. S. defends against Slovakia’s top threats and whether the Americans can generate early offense to avoid late drama.
- Special teams execution, especially penalty kill and power play, which have influenced close games in this tournament.
Recent updates indicate the U. S. will face Slovakia in the semifinal, and the team will aim to translate the confidence from this overtime win into a performance that secures at least a medal. Details about lineup decisions and injury statuses may evolve as the matchup approaches.
