Team USA advanced to the semifinals of the men’s hockey tournament at the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics with a thrilling 2-1 overtime victory over Sweden. The match, held at the Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena, featured strong goaltending from both sides, with Connor Hellyebuck for the Americans and Jakob Markstrom for Sweden keeping the score tied through much of the first half.
The breakthrough came late in the second period when Jack Hughes’ wrist shot was deflected by Dylan Larkin and slipped past Markstrom, giving the United States a 1-0 lead. Sweden pressed hard in the third period but could not score. Adrian Kempe had a close attempt that hit the post with about two and a half minutes remaining. With 100 seconds left, Sweden pulled Markstrom, and Mika Zibanejad converted a one-timer from Lucas Raymond to tie the game, sending it into a 10-minute sudden-death, 3-on-3 overtime.
Quinn Hughes Nets Overtime Winner as Team USA Advances to Olympic Hockey Semifinals1Quinn Hughes Scores Game-Winning Goal, Sending USA Hockey Team to Semifinals
In overtime, the Americans missed their first five shots, but on the sixth attempt, Quinn Hughes scored, banking the puck off the inside of the post and into the net to clinch the victory. His decisive goal secured Team USA’s spot in the semifinals and highlighted the team’s resilience under pressure.
The United States will face Slovakia in the semifinals while Canada meets Finland in the other match. Both Canada and Finland won their games in overtime. The winners of Friday’s semifinals will compete for gold on Sunday, marking the 46th anniversary of the Miracle on Ice.
This game marked another intense day at the Olympics, with three out of four games going into overtime. Team USA’s mix of disciplined defense, timely scoring, and strong goaltending kept their gold medal hopes alive and gave fans an unforgettable performance.
