Usa Mens Hockey Next Game: USA meets Slovakia in Olympic semifinal at 3:10 p.m. ET
usa mens hockey next game will be Friday when Team USA faces Slovakia in an Olympic semifinal at 3: 10 p. m. ET; the winner advances to the gold-medal game Sunday at 8: 10 a. m. ET while the loser will play for bronze on Saturday at 2: 40 p. m. ET.
Usa Mens Hockey Next Game: USA vs Slovakia at 3: 10 p. m. ET
Team USA earned a spot in the final four after a dramatic quarterfinal that required late heroics: Sweden’s Mika Zibanejad tied the game in the final two minutes, forcing overtime, and Quinn Hughes produced a decisive play in the extra session. The semifinal with Slovakia is scheduled for 3: 10 p. m. ET on Friday, with a straight path to the gold-medal game at 8: 10 a. m. ET on Sunday for the winner.
Quarterfinals turned tense with three overtime finishes
Wednesday’s quarterfinal slate produced three straight overtime games and one one-sided opener, setting a high bar for Friday’s semifinal matchups. The United States was pushed to the brink after Zibanejad’s late equalizer, and Quinn Hughes joined a short list of quarterfinal heroes that included Mitch Marner and Artturi Lehkonen.
Predictions and matchups split but U. S. blue line draws praise
Eight writers covering the Olympics offered semifinal predictions that often favored the United States, citing the depth of its four-line rotation and the presence of Quinn Hughes on the blue line and Jack Hughes playing at a high level up front. Others warned Slovakia could be a dangerous opponent, pointing to players such as Juraj Slafkovsky and goaltender Samuel Hlavaj as potential difference-makers in an upset.
Canada-Finland semifinal and roster notes loom large
The earlier quarterfinals also left Canada and Finland set to meet at 10: 40 a. m. ET Friday. Canada needed a late comeback without captain Sidney Crosby in the quarters; head coach Jon Cooper said, "Sid is by no means ruled out of the tournament, " adding that "we will know more in 24 hours. " Macklin Celebrini scored his tournament-leading fifth goal in the quarterfinals, Connor McDavid tied Teemu Selanne’s record for most points in one Olympics, and Nathan MacKinnon delivered a timely power-play tally. Canada’s penalty kill sits at 77. 78 percent, while Finland’s power play has been at 20 percent, tied for eighth.
The path to medals is now set: Canada vs. Finland at 10: 40 a. m. ET and USA vs. Slovakia at 3: 10 p. m. ET on Friday; the bronze-medal game is scheduled for Saturday at 2: 40 p. m. ET, and the gold-medal game is set for Sunday at 8: 10 a. m. ET.
