USA beats Sweden in OT; men’s Olympic hockey semifinals are set

MILAN (AP) — The USA and Canada are moving on to the semifinals at the Olympics. Each needed extra hockey to get through the quarterfinals.

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Quinn Hughes scored in overtime to put the U.S. past Sweden 2-1 after giving up the tying goal to Mika Zibanejad with 91 seconds left in the third period.

QUINN HUGHES! USA WINS! 🦅 pic.twitter.com/WxbCRKxPiO

— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) February 18, 2026

Dylan Larkin deflected Jack Hughes’ shot in for the only U.S. goal in regulation.

The U.S. will face Slovakia in one semifinal on Friday. Just before that, also unbeaten Canada plays Finland in the other.

Earlier Wednesday, Nick Suzuki tied it for Canada late in regulation against Czechia, and Mitch Marner won it 4-3 in overtime to avoid what would have been a stunning early exit.

“It was just all relief,” Canada’s Macklin Celebrini said after scoring three minutes in and then assisting on Marner’s goal. “A weight lifted off our shoulders, for sure. Just seeing that puck go in, knowing that we won the game. … It was a good feeling for all of us.”

After Canada did its part, albeit with a roller coaster of drama and emotion, the U.S. kept alive the possibility of the North American rivals meeting in the gold medal game Sunday by riding goaltender Connor Hellebuyck’s solid play past Sweden.

Finland also escaped an upset bid by rallying to beat Switzerland 3-2 in OT. Sweden is going home early from a tournament that did not go as planned for a team with a full roster of 25 NHL players, while upstart Slovakia is making another improbable run at the Games.

More: Olympic Hockey Roundup – Canada, Finland survive scares in OT

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