Usa Hockey storms past Slovakia, sets up Sunday gold-medal showdown with Canada
usa hockey leaned on a dominant goaltending performance and a two-goal night from Jack Hughes to beat Slovakia 6-2 in a Friday semifinal in Milan, a win that sends the Americans into Sunday’s Olympic gold-medal match against Canada.
Usa Hockey headed to gold-medal game after 6-2 win
Jack Hughes scored a pair of goals and goaltender Connor Hellebuyck turned away all but two shots he faced as the Americans overwhelmed Slovakia 6-2 in the second of Friday night’s two semifinals in Milan. The victory clinched the U. S. spot in Sunday’s final against Canada, which earlier rallied from a two-goal deficit to beat Finland and advance.
Hughes’ scoring and Hellebuyck’s netminding set the tone
The U. S. attack produced six goals while Hellebuyck allowed two, a balance that left little doubt after the opening stages of the game. Jack Hughes’ pair of goals provided the clear offensive lift for the Americans in the semifinal in Milan on Friday night.
Slovakia’s unexpected run ended in Milan
Slovakia arrived in the semifinals as one of the tournament’s surprises, having won a preliminary group that included Sweden and Finland to earn a bye to the quarterfinals and then skating circles around Germany to reach Friday’s last four. The Slovak roster features seven NHL players and was described before the game as a well-organized, cohesive unit buoyed by a trio of young stars.
The Americans acknowledged Slovakia could not be overlooked, even as the U. S. roster left a forward who has been named to two of the last three NHL All-Star Games and a defenseman who is the highest-paid player in Anaheim Ducks history off the lineup. American defenders and forwards pressed a physical game throughout the semifinal in Milan on Friday.
What’s next — a North American showdown for gold
The U. S. is seeking its first Olympic gold in men’s hockey since 1980 and has played in two gold-medal games since then, losing to Canada at the Vancouver Games in 2010 and at the Salt Lake City Games in 2002. American players warned the matchup with Canada would be decided by who plays best on Sunday; Dylan Larkin said it would “take that one performance” from a player to flip prior results, and Quinn Hughes predicted the teams would be even enough to force a long, hard contest.
The confirmed next event is the men’s Olympic gold-medal match on Sunday, when the U. S. and Canada will meet for the title in Milan.
