Werenski Nhl: Quinn Hughes’ overtime blast sends U.S. past Sweden to set up Slovakia semifinal

werenski nhl Quinn Hughes ended a tense quarterfinal with a 3: 27 overtime goal, drilling a shot off the right post and past Sweden’s Jacob Markstrom to give the United States a 2-1 win at Milano Santagiulia and a semifinal date with Slovakia.

Hughes’ shot breaks through after late Sweden equalizer

Hughes’ laser in the third minute of overtime followed a dramatic finish to regulation. Sweden’s Mika Zibanejad tied the game with 91 seconds remaining after U. S. goaltender Connor Hellebuyck — the three-time Vezina Trophy winner — had turned away 28 shots earlier in the contest. Pandemonium erupted inside Milano Santagiulia as a sea of blue jerseys swarmed Hughes after the puck hit the post and trickled in; Hughes later summed up the moment in three words: “Just relief. ”

Werenski Nhl and the setup: Boldy feed, time on ice and a missed opportunity turned around

The decisive sequence began when Matt Boldy slipped a pass to Hughes on the left boards in 3-on-3 overtime. Hughes created space, moved toward the center of the ice and finished with the shot that beat Markstrom 3: 27 into the extra period. Hughes logged a team-high 27: 31 of ice time in the game, a long-awaited contribution after missing last year’s 4 Nations Face-Off with an oblique injury.

Slovakia awaits after a run that included Sweden and Finland

The win advances the Americans to a semifinal against Slovakia, the upset-minded team that won a group containing Sweden and Finland and then routed Germany to reach this stage. The United States entered the knockout rounds as the No. 2 seed after earning a bye by beating Germany, Latvia and Denmark in group play; Auston Matthews warned that Slovakia will be “an extremely hard test, ” saying their desperation and speed make every game feel like Game 7.

Scenes in Milan and what comes next

Inside Milano Santagiulia, fans and teammates celebrated Hughes’ late strike the way they do memorable Olympic moments: an on-ice swarm and immediate jubilation. The Americans now turn their attention to the semifinal against Slovakia, the next confirmed hurdle on the road to the medal rounds.