Mens Hockey Olympics — mens hockey olympics: USA vs. Slovakia semifinal preview
The men's tournament has reached the semifinal stage at the mens hockey olympics, and Friday’s pair of games will decide who plays for gold. The United States survived a 2-1 overtime test against Sweden thanks to an overtime goal from Quinn Hughes, while Slovakia roared past Germany 6-2 in the quarterfinals; those results set up a 3: 10 p. m. ET semifinal between the U. S. and Slovakia that will determine which team advances toward the gold-medal game.
Semifinal schedule and stakes
The final four meet in two semifinal games: Finland faces Canada at 10: 40 a. m. ET and Slovakia meets the United States at 3: 10 p. m. ET. All four remaining teams are guaranteed one more game; the winners will play for gold on Sunday at 8: 10 a. m. ET, while the losers meet for bronze on Saturday at 2: 40 p. m. ET. Each semifinal therefore carries immediate medal implications and shapes the final podium possibilities.
mens hockey olympics: Americans survived a scare
Team USA nearly exited in the quarterfinals after Sweden tied the game late in regulation when Mika Zibanejad scored with roughly a minute and a half to play. The bench appeared stunned by the equalizer, but the U. S. held through overtime until Quinn Hughes delivered the deciding goal for a 2-1 victory. That clutch finish kept the Americans alive and underlines why they remain favorites to reach the final, even if the margin for error is small.
Slovakia's momentum and key players
Slovakia reached the semifinals with a decisive display in the quarters, routing Germany 6-2. Juraj Slafkovský has been singled out for outstanding play, while Pavol Regenda scored two goals and added an assist in the quarterfinal, and Dalibor Dvorský recorded a goal and an assist. Slovakia’s combination of confidence and secondary scoring has helped make its run feel less like a fluke and more like a genuine challenge for higher-ranked opponents.
Mens Hockey Olympics predictions and what to watch
An eight-person panel of writers and editors covering the Olympics offered mixed semifinal picks, generally leaning toward the United States and Canada but also acknowledging Slovakia’s disruptive potential. Analysts point to the U. S. depth — four strong forward lines and a loaded blue line — as a structural advantage, while others highlight Slovakia’s form and key performers as reasons an upset is plausible.
Concrete indicators to monitor in the U. S. -Slovakia game: whether the Americans can impose sustained offensive pressure for 60 minutes and whether the Slovak secondary scorers continue to produce. If the U. S. cannot overwhelm Slovakia on offense, the Americans will need a top-tier goaltending performance from Connor Hellebuyck to advance. For the Finland–Canada matchup, commentators emphasized goaltending performance and defensive structure as decisive factors.
What happens in these two semifinals directly determines who plays for gold and who battles for bronze. With medal-round games scheduled across Saturday and Sunday, each team’s ability to manage momentum and energy in the immediate turnaround will be a practical factor to watch as the tournament approaches its conclusion.
