Quinn Hughes Overtime Lifts U.S. Into Olympic Hockey Semifinals
Quinn Hughes scored in 3-on-3 overtime to lift the U.S. to a 2-1 quarterfinal win over Sweden and set a semifinal against Slovakia on Friday, Feb. 20.
Overview
Quinn Hughes scored in 3-on-3 overtime to give the United States a 2-1 quarterfinal victory over Sweden.
The win sends the U.S. into a semifinal against Slovakia on Friday, Feb. 20, guaranteeing the Americans a chance to play for an Olympic medal.
Players and coaches described relief and tense nerves after overtime, with Dylan Larkin calling the period nervy and Matthew Tkachuk and coach Mike Sullivan praising the team's character and preparation.
Three of the four quarterfinal games went to overtime as Canada edged Czechia 4-3 in OT after Nick Suzuki tied it late and Mitch Marner won it, Finland beat Switzerland 3-2 in OT, and Slovakia beat Germany 6-2.
Canada will face Finland in the other semifinal on Friday, Feb. 20, with the winners meeting in the gold medal game on Sunday.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources frame the games as dramatic North American showdowns, using evaluative language ('stunning,' 'roller coaster,' 'upstart') and spotlighting hero narratives (Marner, Hellebuyck). Editorial choices prioritize U.S./Canada storylines and emotional beats; player quotes about relief and resilience are source content, not the editorial framing.
Sources (9)
FAQ
Quinn Hughes recorded 6 points (1 goal, 5 assists) across 4 games in the tournament, tying for the team lead with captain Auston Matthews.[1] He earned his fifth assist in the quarterfinal victory, tying Brian Leetch's record for the most assists by an American defenseman in an Olympics with NHL participation.[2] Hughes also achieved at least one assist in all four games, marking the longest assist streak by an American player at an Olympics with NHL participation, and tied Nicklas Lidstrom for the longest assist streak by a defenseman (four assists).[2]
Hughes carried the puck into the Sweden zone along the left-wing boards and passed it back to Matt Boldy at the left point.[1] Hughes then skated toward Boldy to receive the puck, moved into the high slot, and fired a wrist shot from the top of the slot that went in off the right post at 3:27 of overtime.[3] The goal beat Sweden captain Gabriel Landeskog's stick and goaltender Jacob Markstrom's glove, sending the U.S. to the semifinals.[1]
Quinn Hughes is a 26-year-old defenseman for the Minnesota Wild who was drafted seventh overall by Vancouver in the 2018 NHL Draft.[7] He played college hockey at the University of Michigan from 2017 to 2019 and made his NHL debut in 2019.[7] Hughes was traded from the Vancouver Canucks to the Minnesota Wild in December 2025 after spending 7.5 seasons with the Canucks.[7] During the 2025-26 NHL season, he led defensemen with 92 points (17 goals, 75 assists) in 82 games and leads NHL skaters in average ice time at 27:52 per game.[1]
The quarterfinal victory guarantees the United States a chance to play for an Olympic medal.[3] The U.S. will face Slovakia in the semifinal on Friday, February 20, 2026.[3] The other semifinal will feature Canada against Finland on the same day, with the winners advancing to the gold medal game on Sunday.[3]
History
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