Quinn Hughes Scores Dramatic Overtime Goal to Advance Team USA to Semifinals
Quinn Hughes scored at 3:27 of overtime on Wednesday, lifting the United States to a 2-1 victory over Sweden in the men’s hockey quarterfinals at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan. The Minnesota Wild defenseman’s wrist shot from the top of the slot caromed off the right post and in, securing Team USA’s passage to the semifinals and setting up a Friday matchup against Slovakia.
The overtime heroics capped a tense back-and-forth contest where the US hockey team nearly suffered a heartbreaking defeat. Dylan Larkin had given the Americans a 1-0 lead early in the second period with a redirection of Jack Hughes’ slap shot from the edge of the crease. But Sweden’s Mika Zibanejad tied it with just 1:31 remaining in regulation, converting a one-timer from the left circle off a cross-ice pass by Lucas Raymond as Jacob Markstrom was pulled for an extra attacker.
Hughes Delivers in Clutch Moment
Hughes’ performance extended far beyond the decisive goal. The defenseman logged more than 27 minutes—the most of any American player—and averaged 56 seconds per shift while consistently matching up against Sweden’s top lines. He also recorded an assist on Larkin’s goal, giving him five assists for the tournament, tying Brian Leetch’s record for the most assists by an American defenseman in an Olympics with NHL participation.
“Everybody had complete faith in whoever was going over the boards,” USA coach Jon Cooper said. “It just felt like a matter of time. It was going to happen.”
Goaltender Connor Hellebuyck was also pivotal for Team USA hockey, making 28 saves despite Sweden’s Jacob Markstrom stopping 38 shots for the No. 7-seeded Swedes. The US men’s hockey team’s balanced performance—combining defensive stability with opportunistic scoring—proved decisive in the tightly contested Olympic men’s hockey encounter.
Road to the Finals Continues
Team USA advances as the No. 2 seed and will face No. 3-seeded Slovakia in the semifinals Friday at 3:10 p.m. ET. The matchup sets up a potential gold medal game against Canada, the tournament’s top seed, who will face Finland in the other semifinal. The USA vs Sweden result reflects a tournament where men’s hockey has delivered multiple overtime thrillers, with multiple quarterfinal contests requiring extra periods.
Sweden’s elimination marks an early exit for a squad that featured a full roster of 25 NHL players, while Team USA’s resilience and Hughes’ eleventh-hour heroics have the Americans positioned for a deep Olympic hockey run.
