MILAN — What an emotional, challenging quarterfinal for USA men’s hockey.
Their 2026 Winter Olympics hopes were on the line, their lead leveled in the final minute-plus of regulation when Sweden powered through tired legs and scored. Ninety-one seconds from celebrating, instead the Americans had to get over it and get on it with.
So they did. Quinn Hughes secured USA’s advancement to the semifinals with a goal at 3:27 of overtime, sealing a 2-1 victory. The Americans, who improved to 4-0 in the tournament, advance to play Slovakia. Canada plays Finland in the other game. Both games are Friday, Feb. 20, with USA again slotted into the 3:10 p.m. ET start.
Though the Americans have been used to the goals pouring in on opponents in the preliminary round, this game was different. USA had one goal after two periods at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena. The clock ticked down, and Sweden did what any opponent does in such a case: Pull the goalie.
It worked. Mika Zibanejad scored with 1:31 to play, connecting on an unreal, no-look, across-the-top-of-the-circles pass from Lucas Raymond.
Dylan Larkin delivered a huge one, tipping Jack Hughes’ shot midway through the second period to put USA up by one. Brady Tkachuk flew into the paint from the right side shortly afterward to try to build on the lead, but Jacob Markstrom made the save and covered the puck as his crease crowded.
USA went on a second power play late in the second period. Tage Thompson had a good chance and Markstrom had to dive and thrash his stick to try to get to the rebound, but a teammate helped out. USA had a 20-8 edge in shots in the second period.
USA did a masterful job killing off a Sweden power play early in the third period to maintain the lead. Back at even strength, Matt Boldy had a chance denied from the bottom of the left circle.
The Swedes had to make do without one of their top defenseman when Victor Hedman suffered a lower-body injury during warmups and was unable to play, requiring further evaluation. Hedman watched the game from Sweden’s bench.
The Americans looked to take advantage of their opponent having played 24 hours earlier, running up an early 6-0 edge in shots. A power play at 3:21 helped build momentum. It wasn’t until about 7 minutes in that the Swedes found a gear and started attacking, pinning USA in their zone and forcing saves from Markstrom. Lucas Raymond had one of the best ones of the period, firing a shot from the right circle with about seven minutes to play. Markstrom came up with a big save on Jack Hughes after Rasmus Dahlin lost the puck in his own zone. It ended up being a pretty even, sedate opening period.