US Men's Hockey Dominates Semifinal Against Slovakia, Eyeing Gold Medal Showdown
Milan, Friday, 20 February 2026.
Holding a commanding 4-0 lead, Team USA is poised to face Canada for the gold, fueled by a nineteen-second scoring burst from Jack Hughes and Jack Eichel.
American Offense Erupts in Milan
The United States men’s hockey team has mounted a decisive 4-0 lead over Slovakia late in the third period of the Olympic semifinals, a stark contrast to the defensive grind that characterized their quarterfinal victory. While the Americans previously required overtime heroics to bypass Sweden [1], the offense has operated with clinical efficiency at the Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on Friday [1]. As of 1:34 PM PST, with just over seven minutes remaining in regulation, Team USA has effectively dismantled the Slovakian defense, capitalizing on a potent blend of power-play execution and rapid-fire scoring bursts [1][5].
A Nineteen-Second Onslaught
After establishing a 2-0 lead in the first period through goals by Dylan Larkin and a power-play strike from Tage Thompson, the United States broke the game open in the second frame [1][5]. In a span of just 19 seconds, the American attack overwhelmed Slovakia; Jack Hughes found the net at 12:14 of the second period, followed almost immediately by Jack Eichel at 12:33 [5]. This rapid succession of goals forced Slovakia to pull starting goaltender Samuel Hlavaj in favor of Stanislav Skorvanek in an attempt to stem the tide [1][4]. The U.S. dominance was nearly more pronounced, as a goal by Jake Guentzel was disallowed earlier in the second period due to a distinct kicking motion [4].
The Road to Gold: A North American Rivalry Renewed
The victory, barring a miraculous late-game collapse, sets the stage for a highly anticipated gold medal showdown against Canada, who defeated Finland earlier in the day [1]. This final matchup is scheduled for Sunday, February 22, at 8:10 a.m. ET [1][3]. The stakes are historically significant, as the United States is seeking its first Olympic gold in men’s ice hockey since the 1980 “Miracle on Ice,” while looking to build on the momentum of the U.S. women’s team, which secured gold against Canada just a day prior [6]. Meanwhile, Slovakia will move on to face Finland in the bronze medal game [4].