Mens Hockey Olympics: Semifinals Set After Quarterfinal Overtime Marathon
The mens hockey olympics moved into the semifinal round after a quarterfinal session that produced a one-sided opener and three straight overtime finishes, leaving favorites Canada and the United States pushed to the brink and setting up a final weekend where a single win will send a team to the gold-medal game on Sunday.
Overtime drama decided much of the quarterfinals
Wednesday’s slate featured one clear blowout before a run of tightly contested games that required extra time. Three consecutive quarterfinal matchups went to overtime, and in three separate contests teams erased late deficits: one team tied the game in the final four minutes of regulation, and twice opponents scored while the goalie was on the bench for an extra attacker to force the extra period.
Canada leaned on a retooled top line
Canada survived a late test without captain Sidney Crosby, who did not skate in the quarterfinal and is not ruled out of the tournament. Head coach Jon Cooper said, "Sid is by no means ruled out of the tournament. I can speak on [Josh] Morrissey, the same boat. And we are not going to put anybody in harm’s way, but if [Crosby] can play, he will, and we will know more in 24 hours. He’s not been ruled out. " In Crosby’s absence Cooper shifted personnel and loaded the top line, pairing Macklin Celebrini and Nathan MacKinnon with Connor McDavid. Celebrini scored his tournament-leading fifth goal, McDavid tied Teemu Selanne’s record for most points in one Olympics, and MacKinnon delivered a timely power-play tally.
Those adjustments came against the backdrop of special-teams concerns: Canada’s penalty kill sits at 77. 78 percent, a figure the team has not favored even as its power play has been strong. Certain veterans have struggled offensively; Sam Reinhart has one assist through four games, Brad Marchand has one assist in three games, and Sam Bennett has one assist in two games and missed Wednesday’s contest with an illness.
United States forced to respond after late equalizer
The United States also faced a late-game scare when Sweden’s Mika Zibanejad tied the game in the final two minutes of regulation, forcing the Americans to regroup for overtime. Quinn Hughes emerged among the quarterfinal heroes, joining Canada’s Mitch Marner and Finland’s Artturi Lehkonen as players who produced decisive moments in extra time.
With all remaining teams still alive for a medal, each semifinal win will give the victor a berth in the gold-medal game on Sunday.
Goaltending matchup adds another layer
Neither Canada’s Jordan Binnington nor Finland’s Juuse Saros have had strong NHL seasons, but both posted strong numbers at the event in Milan: Binnington with a. 922 save percentage and Saros with a. 936 mark. Binnington’s numbers against Czechia were mixed—his statistics there "weren’t great, " though the context notes he did not allow any bad goals.
Semifinal winners will advance to play for gold on Sunday; teams failing to win will drop into the bronze-medal game. The next confirmed milestone for the field is the semifinal round, where another single victory will decide who reaches the Olympic final.
