Milan, Italy – Quinn Hughes scored 3:27 into overtime, lifting the United States men’s hockey team to a 2-1 victory over Sweden in the quarterfinal round of the 2026 Winter Olympics on Wednesday. The game, played at the Olympic Ice Rink in Milan, sends Team USA into the semifinals where they will face Slovakia on Friday.
The game remained scoreless through the first period, with both teams demonstrating strong defensive play. Dylan Larkin broke the deadlock midway through the second period, redirecting a shot from the point to provide the United States a 1-0 lead. The U.S. Maintained its advantage until the late stages of the third period when Mika Zibanejad scored for Sweden with just 1:31 remaining, capitalizing on an empty net after the Swedes pulled their goaltender.
Hughes’ overtime goal concluded a tightly contested match. According to reports from The Athletic, Hughes “just kept creating space out there” during the extra period, ultimately securing the win for the Americans. The victory marks the third consecutive Olympic Games in which Team USA has reached the semifinals, having previously reached that stage in 2014 and 2010.
Sweden was without defenseman Victor Hedman for the game after he sustained a lower-body injury during warmups. Despite the loss, Sweden’s performance in the preliminary round saw them secure a spot in the quarterfinals with a record of two wins and one loss.
The United States entered the knockout stage as the No. 2 seed, having finished first in Group C with a perfect 3-0-0 record. This is the first time the U.S. Has been ranked so highly in the Olympic tournament. The team’s undefeated run in the preliminary round established them as a strong contender for a medal.
U.S. Goaltender Connor Hellebuyck delivered an excellent performance, providing a solid defensive foundation for the team throughout the game. The Sporting News highlighted Hellebuyck’s performance as a key factor in the U.S. Victory.
The semifinal matchup against Slovakia will be a significant challenge for Team USA. Slovakia has been on an unexpected run through the tournament, exceeding expectations with their performance. The game is scheduled for Friday, with the winner advancing to the gold medal game.
