By Blessing Nweke
A blistering wrist shot from Quinn Hughes lifted the United States to a dramatic 2-1 overtime victory against Sweden on Thursday, securing a place in the tournament semifinals against Slovakia.
The decisive moment came with 6:33 remaining in extra time at the Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena. Hughes received the puck near the left faceoff circle, initially searching for a teammate before creating space for himself and firing the winning shot past Swedish goaltender Jacob Markström. Hughes celebrated immediately, raising his arms as the crowd erupted.
“It’s just a relief,” Hughes said after the game, adding that he is enjoying competing alongside his teammates and hopes to extend the run as long as possible.
The win keeps the United States undefeated at 4-0 and marks its toughest challenge so far in a tournament featuring powerhouse rosters built entirely from NHL talent, including Sweden and Canada.
After a scoreless opening period highlighted by strong saves from American goalie Connor Hellebuyck and Markström, the Americans struck first late in the second. Jack Hughes fired a shot from inside the blue line that was deflected in midair by Dylan Larkin for a 1-0 lead.
Sweden responded dramatically in the final minute after pulling Markström for an extra skater. Lucas Raymond set up Mika Zibanejad, who tied the game with a one-timer.
Hughes’ overtime winner preserved American gold-medal hopes. Larkin cautioned that the team must stay focused, noting Slovakia’s strong form. A semifinal victory would guarantee the United States its first medal since the 2010 Winter Olympics, while defeat would send the Americans into the bronze-medal match.
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