By: Chad Jones | Follow me on Twitter/X @ShutUpChadJones
Team USA is moving on to the semifinals in the 2026 Winter Olympics after defeating Team Sweden 2-1 in overtime on Wednesday. The quarterfinals matchup was filled with furious competition at Milano Santa Giulia Ice Hockey Arena.
First Period
The opening 20 minutes were dominated by the goaltenders. Connor Hellebuyck continued his phenomenal play between the pipes for Team USA in this tournament. The three-time Vezina Trophy winner denied all ten shots his way in the period.
Across the ice, Jacob Markstrom was equally as effective for Team Sweden in the first period. The netminder also stopped all ten shots his way in the frame, including one on his New Jersey Devils teammate, Jack Hughes.
While no goals were scored, there was plenty of relentless hockey from both squads. Team Sweden established an effective forecheck and generated pressure below the goal line. Meanwhile, Charlie McAvoy made his presence felt, literally, by delivering two massive body checks in the period, one to Joel Eriksson Ek and the other to Team Sweden’s captain, Gabriel Landeskog. Playing on the number one defensive pairing with the puck-moving wizard that is Quinn Hughes has allowed the Boston Bruins defenseman to zone in on physicality and responsible play.
Second Period
Both goalies made terrific stops during the first half of the middle frame. Hellebuyck robbed Lucas Raymond of a sure goal after Landeskog delivered a slick backhand feed to the winger. Markstrom responded in kind with a key stop on a Jake Guentzel rush.
But for the first half of the period, Team Sweden carried play for the most part. They were generating quality offensive zone time and pressuring effectively.
However, Team USA was the first team to find the back of the net. After two great offensive looks by Quinn Hughes and McAvoy, both sides lined up for a faceoff in Team Sweden’s defensive zone.
Brock Nelson won the draw cleanly. Quinn Hughes fed the puck to his brother, Jack, who had crept up near the blue line. Jack Hughes then fired the puck toward the net. Dylan Larkin showed off his terrific hand-eye coordination by redirecting the puck right in front of the crease past Markstrom. Team USA took the 1-0 lead with just under nine minutes left in the period.
But Team Sweden would keep the deficit at a single goal by thwarting a Team USA power play late in the frame. Thanks to Larkin, Team USA headed into the second intermission ahead on the scoreboard.
Third Period
The urgency was palpable for the entire frame. Sweden’s attack was ferocious as the period wore on.
With two and a half minutes left, Adrian Kempe drilled a shot off the post from the slot, but the puck stayed out. Soon after, Markstrom headed to the bench for the extra attacker.
Raymond made a spectacular feed to Mika Zibanejad, who was hunkered in the left faceoff circle. The New York Ranger forward rifled a one-timer past Hellebuyck to tie the game at 1-1. The two teams headed to a ten-minute, sudden-death, three-on-three overtime period.
Overtime
In the extra session, it was the Quinn Hughes Show. The spectacular defenseman was on the ice for the last 75 seconds of overtime, which he capped by ripping the puck off the post and in from the slot to send Team USA to the semifinals.
Team USA will take on Team Slovakia on Friday for the right to battle for the gold medal. The game will take place at 3 p.m. ET.
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