Quinn Hughes' OT winner lifts U.S. over Sweden into Olympic semifinals

Story byQuinn Hughes' OT winner lifts U.S. over Sweden into Olympic semifinalsUnited States' Quinn Hughes (43) reacts as the bench clears after scoring the winning goal in overtime of the men's hockey playoff quarterfinal game between Sweden and the USA at the Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena in Milan, Italy, on Wednesday, February 18, 2026. The USA defeated Sweden 2-1 and will advance to face Slovakia in their semi-final game. Photo by Aaron Josefczyk/UPIDarryl CooteThu, February 19, 2026 at 3:36 AM UTC·6 min read

Feb. 18 (UPI) -- Team USA's Quinn Hughes fired a shot from the high slot past the glove of Sweden goalkeeper Jacob Markstrom in overtime Wednesday to give the Americans a 2-1 victory over the Swedes and send them into the men's Olympic hockey semifinals in Milan, Italy.

The shifty defenseman has been a force all tournament with four assists from the back end heading into Wednesday's quarterfinal game between the United States and Sweden. But his most important moment of the tournament, possibly of his young career, came less than 3:30 into three-on-three overtime against the Swedes.

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With the United States pressing, Hughes entered Sweden's end. He skated the puck down the left boards before passing back to forward Matt Boldy at the point. Boldy then sent it back to Hughes who worked his way to the blue line.

After taking a long swoop at the top of the zone, Hughes stepped into the high slot, leaned on his stick, and let off a missile of a shot that beat Markstrom, ranging off the left post and in.

Team USA cleared the bench and mobbed Hughes against the boards in the neutral zone.

United States' Quinn Hughes (43) is mobbed by teammates after he scored the winning goal in three-on-three play in overtime of the men's hockey playoff quarterfinal game between Sweden and the USA at the Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena in Milan, Italy, on Wednesday, February 18, 2026. The USA defeated Sweden 2-1 and will advance to face Slovakia in their semi-final game. Photo by Aaron Josefczyk/UPI

"I wanted to take it to my forehand, and I got the defender moving that way and then I was able to get the shot off. Something I work on a lot, just trying to attack, get my shot off," Hughes told reporters after the game.

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Team USA entered the game as the favorites after handily winning their preliminary games to finish at the top of Group C and earn a bye into quarterfinal play, while the stacked Swedes have struggled this tournament, shakily winning two of their three preliminary games and then besting Latvia 5-1 to advance to the quarterfinals.

United States' Matthew Tkachuk (19) celebrates after United States' Quinn Hughes (43) scored the winning goal in overtime of the men's hockey playoff quarterfinal game between Sweden and the USA at the Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena in Milan, Italy, on Wednesday, February 18, 2026. Photo by Aaron Josefczyk/UPI

With elimination on the line, both teams came out strong during the first, which ended scoreless and the Swedes edging the Americans in the shot department, 11-10.

The U.S. men were able to find a way to beat the veteran Markstrom in the second.

United States' Quinn Hughes (43) reacts after scoring the winning goal in overtime of the men's hockey playoff quarterfinal game between Sweden and the USA at the Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena in Milan, Italy, on Wednesday, February 18, 2026. Photo by Aaron Josefczyk/UPI

With more than half the game gone, the United States cleanly won a faceoff to the right of Sweden's net back to Quinn Hughes who passed the puck to his young brother, forward Jack Hughes, who wired a one-timer that was tipped in past Markstrom by forward Dylan Larkin.

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The Americans carried their 1-0 lead deep into the third, limiting Sweden to just a few shots all period. But in the final minutes of play, the Swedes turned up the intensity.

United States' Quinn Hughes (43) shoots on Sweden's Gabriel Landeskog (92) to score the winning goal in overtime of the men's hockey playoff quarterfinal game between Sweden and the USA at the Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena in Milan, Italy, on Wednesday, February 18, 2026. Photo by Aaron Josefczyk/UPI

Markstrom was pulled for the extra man with the Swedes cycling in the Americans' zone as the clock ticked down to 90 seconds in the period.

With elimination pending, captain Gabriel Landeskog passed the puck to forward Lucas Raymond at the left point who skated the line, then cut left down the boards before passing a perfect cross-ice pass through the U.S. defensive formation to forward Mika Zibanejad at the face dot who one-timed it short-side, beating U.S. goalkeeper Connor Hellebuyck.

Sweden's Mika Zibanejad (93) reacts after scoring to tie the score in the third period of the men's hockey playoff quarterfinal game between Sweden and the USA at the Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena in Milan, Italy, on Wednesday, February 18, 2026. Photo by Aaron Josefczyk/UPI

The puck rang off the post to beat the reigning Vezina winner to send the game into overtime.

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In the extra frame, now three-on-three play, the Americans dominated, preventing the Swedes from getting a shot on net, while generating five shots on their own, with the final one coming off the stick of Quinn Hughes to eliminate Sweden and carry Team USA into semifinal contention.

United States' Brady Tkachuk (7) breaks away with the puck from Sweden's Philip Broberg (6) in the third period of the men's hockey playoff quarterfinal game between Sweden and the USA at the Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena in Milan, Italy, on Wednesday, February 18, 2026. Photo by Aaron Josefczyk/UPI

"It's tough to see them score with 90 seconds left, but we're resilient and I think you saw us with that no-regret mantra in overtime and try to attack the game," Quinn Hughes said.

After the game, Hellebuyck praised Quinn Hughes and the rest of the defensive core.

United States' JT Miller (10) battles Sweden's Mika Zibanejad (93) in the third period of the men's hockey playoff quarterfinal game between Sweden and the USA at the Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena in Milan, Italy, on Wednesday, February 18, 2026. Photo by Aaron Josefczyk/UPI

"If I can see it, I can stop it. So, these guys, they let you see everything," Hellebuyck said. "Not only that, I know I don't have to be perfect with my rebounds because I know they're going to clear it out."

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Hellebuyck made 28 saves in the win. Markstrom had 38 in the loss.

Sweden's Jacob Markstrom (25) and Sweden's Oliver Ekman-Larsson (3) defend as United States' Matthew Tkachuk (19) and United States' Jake Guentzel (59) attempt to score in the third period of the men's hockey playoff quarterfinal game between Sweden and the USA at the Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena in Milan, Italy, on Wednesday, February 18, 2026. Photo by Aaron Josefczyk/UPI

Team USA will now play Slovakia in the Olympic men's semifinals on Friday.

Canada beat Czechia 3-2 in a nail-biter of their own on Thursday, and advanced to the semifinals where they will also play Friday against Finland.

United States' Dylan Larkin (21) celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal in the second period of the men's hockey playoff quarterfinal game between Sweden and the USA at the Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena in Milan, Italy, on Wednesday, February 18, 2026. Photo by Aaron Josefczyk/UPIAdvertisementAdvertisement