USA Advances to Hockey Semifinals at 2026 Winter Olympics

The United States men’s hockey team has taken a significant step towards Olympic glory at the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics, overcoming a tough opponent in Sweden with a thrilling 2-1 overtime victory on Wednesday night at Santagiulia Arena. With this win, Team USA has secured a place in the semifinals, where they will face Slovakia.

Exciting Match Highlights

• Overtime Winner: Quinn Hughes netted the decisive goal, clinching the victory for the Americans.
• Thrilling Equalizer: Mika Zibanejad scored a last-minute equalizer for Sweden, showcasing his skills with a powerful one-timer from the faceoff circle.
• Dylan Larkin Shines: Team USA took an early lead thanks to Larkin’s first goal of the tournament, a well-placed redirect of a shot from Jack Hughes.

Tough Start for Sweden

Team Sweden faced significant challenges even before the game began. Star defenseman Victor Hedman suffered a lower-body injury during warmups, preventing him from participating in the match. Despite being present on the bench, Coach Sam Hallam announced that Hedman would be reassessed after the game. His absence proved detrimental as Sweden struggled to generate offensive momentum throughout the match.

Game Breakdown

1. Strong Start for the U.S.

After a scoreless first period, the Americans took the lead in the second period.

• Key Moment: Dylan Larkin scored after perfectly redirecting a shot from Jack Hughes, energizing the team and fans alike.

2. Sweden Strikes Back

With just over a minute left in regulation:

• Mika Zibanejad leveled the score with a powerful one-timer, sending the game into overtime and keeping Sweden in contention.

3. Overtime Victory

• Quinn Hughes delivered the winning goal in the extra period, sealing Team USA’s advancement to the semifinals.

4. Fan Support

Chants of “USA! USA! USA!” echoed throughout the arena, reflecting the passionate support from American fans, especially during the nail-biting moments of the third period.

Looking Ahead: Semifinals Preview

Team USA is set to face Slovakia in the semifinals, aiming to continue their quest for gold. Meanwhile, Canada will clash with Finland after their own nail-biting overtime win against Czechia earlier in the day.

Conclusion

The road to the gold medal has been painted with trials and triumphs for Team USA. After an impressive performance against Sweden, the team is poised for continued success as they move toward the semifinals of the 2026 Winter Olympics.

For more detailed updates on the 2026 Winter Olympics hockey events, visit NHL.com or Olympics.com.