Team USA Advances to Olympic Semifinals After Dramatic Overtime Win Against Sweden

2026-02-19 general

Milan, Thursday, 19 February 2026.
Defenseman Quinn Hughes scored the decisive goal at 3:27 of overtime, securing a 2-1 victory that advances the United States to face Slovakia in Friday’s semifinal round.

Sudden Death Heroics at Santagiulia Arena

The high-stakes quarterfinal matchup at the Milano Santagiulia Arena concluded in dramatic fashion on Wednesday, February 18, as Team USA defeated Sweden 2-1 to secure a spot in the medal rounds [1][5]. The contest, characterized by tight checking and stellar goaltending, was decided 3 minutes and 27 seconds into the 3-on-3 overtime period [1][3]. Quinn Hughes, who has established himself as a pivotal playmaker for the Americans, converted the game-winning goal to eliminate a Swedish squad that had been considered a strong contender for the podium [1][7]. The victory propels the United States into the semifinals, keeping their quest for a first Olympic gold medal since 1980 firmly on track [3].

A Goaltending Duel and Late Drama

For the majority of regulation, the game was defined by the performance of the goaltenders. Swedish netminder Jacob Markström was formidable, turning aside 38 of the 40 shots he faced, a performance that drew praise from teammates despite the loss [5][7]. On the other end, American goaltender Connor Hellebuyck made 28 saves, anchoring a defensive effort that nearly secured a regulation shutout [1][7]. Team USA opened the scoring midway through the second period when Dylan Larkin found the back of the net at the 11:03 mark, assisted by Jack Hughes and Quinn Hughes [1]. However, Sweden forced the extra session late in the third period; with goaltender Markström pulled for an extra attacker, Mika Zibanejad tied the game 1-1 with just 1 minute and 31 seconds remaining on the clock [1][5].

Tactical Analysis: Hughes’ Impact and Swedish Setbacks

From an analytical standpoint, Quinn Hughes’ contribution extends beyond the game-winning goal. By assisting on Larkin’s opener, Hughes extended his point streak, having recorded at least one assist in each of the United States’ four games in the tournament [1]. This feat ties him with Swedish legend Nicklas Lidstrom (2002) for the longest assist streak by a defenseman in an Olympics featuring NHL players [1]. Conversely, Sweden faced a significant tactical disadvantage before the puck even dropped; star defenseman Victor Hedman sustained a lower-body injury during warmups and was unable to play, removing a key pillar from the Swedish blue line [3][5].

Semifinal Outlook: The Challenge of Slovakia

Looking ahead to the semifinals scheduled for Friday, February 20, the United States will face Slovakia, a team riding high momentum after a decisive 6-2 victory over Germany in their own quarterfinal matchup [1][6]. While the Americans enter as the higher seed, Slovakia has proven dangerous, with forward Pavol Regenda netting two goals in their win against Germany [6]. Historical data suggests a competitive fixture; in the two previous Olympic meetings involving NHL players, the teams split the results, with the U.S. winning in 2014 and Slovakia taking the victory in 2006 [3]. In the other side of the bracket, Canada advanced after a 4-3 overtime win against Czechia and will face Finland, who defeated Switzerland 3-2 in overtime [5].

Sources

Winter Olympics Ice Hockey