The United States hit the ice Wednesday for its quarterfinal matchup at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina, facing off against Sweden with a trip to the semifinals on the line. It was a win-or-go-home moment at the 2026 Winter Olympics, and the stakes could not have been higher. The Americans entered the contest riding a wave of confidence. Team USA finished atop Group C with a flawless 3-0-0 record, going perfect through the group stage. They capped that stretch with an impressive win over Germany in their final preliminary game, carrying momentum and belief into the knockout round. As Group C winners, the United States earned a direct berth into the quarterfinals and looked every bit like a legitimate gold medal contender. Sweden, meanwhile, arrived battle-tested. They finished third in Group B with a 3-1-0 record and had to earn their place in the quarterfinals through the qualification round. The Swedes were coming off a win over Latvia and brought both confidence and urgency into this matchup. For both teams, the message was simple: advance to the semifinals or head home.
The tension was evident from the opening puck drop. Just three minutes into the game, Sweden’s Gustav Forsling was called for slashing, giving the United States an early power-play opportunity. However, both teams’ penalty kills stood tall. The first period turned into a defensive chess match, with neither side able to crack the opposing goaltender. After twenty hard-fought minutes, the scoreboard remained locked at 0-0.
The breakthrough finally came late in the second period. With under nine minutes remaining, Dylan Larkin found the back of the net to give the United States a 1-0 lead. The goal, assisted by Jack Hughes and Quinn Hughes, injected life into the American bench and rewarded a relentless offensive push.
The USA continued to pressure Sweden as the period wound down. With under three minutes left in the frame, Sweden’s Hampus Lindholm was called for tripping, but the Americans were unable to convert. Still, after forty minutes of play, the United States held a 1-0 advantage.
The third period brought heightened drama. Just two minutes in, Vincent Trocheck of the United States was sent off for tripping, giving Sweden a crucial power-play opportunity. The Americans killed it off, maintaining their slim lead deep into regulation. As the clock ticked under two minutes remaining, Sweden pulled goaltender Jacob Markstrom for the extra attacker in a desperate bid to extend their Olympic hopes. The gamble paid off. With the extra man on the ice, Mika Zibanejad delivered the equalizer for Sweden. His goal, assisted by Lucas Raymond and Gabriel Landeskog, stunned the American crowd and silenced the U.S. bench. Regulation ended in a 1-1 tie, and suddenly everything would be decided in overtime.
Overtime in Olympic knockout hockey is the ultimate pressure cooker; one shot can define a tournament. Just three minutes into the extra frame, Quinn Hughes rose to the moment. The American defenseman jumped into the play and buried the game-winning goal, assisted by Matt Boldy and Auston Matthews. With that shot, Hughes sent the United States to the semifinals and kept their gold medal dreams alive. The final score: United States 2, Sweden 1.
Statistically, the Americans controlled much of the play. The United States outshot Sweden 40-29, showcasing sustained offensive pressure throughout the contest. Connor Hellebuyck was stellar between the pipes, stopping 28 of 29 shots for a 96% save percentage. At the other end, Jacob Markstrom was equally impressive, turning aside 38 of 40 shots for a 95% save percentage. Special teams ultimately went quiet on both sides, with the United States finishing 0-for-1 on the power play and Sweden going 0-for-2.
This game was defined by elite goaltending, tight defensive structure, and timely heroics. It was a playoff-style battle in every sense. When the weight of a nation rested on his shoulders, Quinn Hughes delivered in the biggest moment of the tournament so far. With the victory, the United States advanced to the semifinals, where they will take on Slovakia. Sweden’s Olympic run came to an end with the overtime loss.
Next up: the semifinals. The United States will face Slovakia on Friday, February 20th, 2026, at 12:10 PM, looking to continue their dominant Olympic run and move one step closer to bringing home a medal.
Zac Electrifly 
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