Quinn Hughes Sends Team USA to the Men’s Hockey Semis With an Overtime Rocket

With Team USA’s medal hopes on the line during sudden-death overtime in its men’s hockey quarterfinal against Sweden, Quinn Hughes of the United States had the puck on his stick and—thanks to team captain Auston Matthews blocking off the Swedish defense—a wee bit of breathing room.

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The Minnesota Wild defenseman let a shot rip. It was a rocket of relief for the American team.

Hughes’ straightaway blast flew past the outstretched glove of Sweden goalkeeper Jacob Markstrom, snuck inside the post, and clinched a dramatic 2-1 victory for the United States. The U.S. will now face Slovakia in Friday’s semifinal round. Canada will face Finland in the other Olympic final four game, with the winners of each facing off on Sunday in the gold medal game, which will conclude all 2026 Olympic competition.

(Wow, that went fast.) 

While it emerged with the win in Milan Wednesday night, Team USA only barely avoided crushing disappointment. The team had cruised through each of its preliminary round games. The last time the Olympics featured a best-on-best global competition with NHL players, in 2014 in Sochi, the U.S. reached the semis; at last year’s 4 Nation’s Face-Off, a highly-popular international competition that that reignited intrigue in international hockey, the U.S. reached the final round before losing to Canada, on home ice, in Boston. Sure, Team USA isn’t in North America anymore. But the “U.S.A., U.S.A.” chants and fans in Tkachuk jerseys and other red, white, and blue paraphernalia gave the contest a home-game feel.  

The Americans believe they’re the world’s best team, but the United States hasn’t won an Olympic hockey gold since The Miracle On Ice in 1980. Falling in the quarters, in the way the Americans almost did, would have stung for a long, long time.  

Especially since they were 91 seconds away from sealing the game. American keeper Connor Hellebuyck, a brick wall in goal who finished the game with 28 saves, was pitching a brilliant 1-0 shutout: Dylan Larkin’s goal in the middle of the second period had given the U.S. the lead. But Sweden had just pulled its keeper late, and a Mika Zibanejad one-time blast almost spoiled Hellebuyck’s effort, tying the game late and forcing overtime. 

The Americans had no time to sulk: Olympic rules call for a 3-on-3—instead of the typical 5 on 5—sudden death ten-minute overtime. It’s a wide-open, anything-goes format. And a potentially heartbreaking one for the United States, since it controlled most of the game. The plan, said Team USA’s Matt Boldy, for when he shared the ice with Matthews and Hughes was simple. Get the puck to Quinn. “He’s so talented, not only to create shots, but to create lanes and chances,” says Boldy. “The biggest thing is, he wants the puck. He wants to have it and make a difference.”

“That’s just Quinn making a big-dog move,” says his younger brother, Jack Hughes, a center for the New Jersey Devils and Quinn’s USA teammate. (Another Hughes brother, Luke, also plays for the Devils.) “That’s a big-dog play right there.” 

Matthew Tkachuk, the Florida Panthers star who just returned to the NHL following offseason surgery to repair a torn adductor muscle and sports hernia, thought the shot might have hit the post and popped out. Then he heard the roar. “It was definitely the highest I’ve jumped since my surgery,” says Tkachuk. “So might have to get a little foam roll.” 

“That was one of the best feelings I’ve ever had,” says American winger Brady Tkachuk, Matthew’s younger brother. Plenty of fraternizing among this American squad. 

Relief swept over the man of the moment. “Really enjoying wearing the crest and playing with the superstars that we have on our team,” says Quinn Hughes. “And getting to know these guys and the village. All of it.” Yes, these pros are forsaking Milan’s luxury hotels to soak up dorm life in the Olympic village. Reason enough to pull hard for them. 

“So you just want to extend it as long as you can,” says Hughes. 

The Americans have two more days in Milan. At least. Thanks to the rocket of relief.