MILAN, Italy — The U.S. and Canada are moving on to the semifinals at the Olympics. Each needed extra hockey to get through the quarterfinals.
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. Dylan Larkin deflected Jack Hughes’ shot in for the only U.S. goal in regulation.
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.”
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.
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.
The U.S. will face Slovakia in one semifinal on Friday night. Just before that, also unbeaten Canada plays Finland in the other.
MILAN, ITALY – FEBRUARY 18: Quinn Hughes #43 of Team United States scores a goal defended by Gabriel Landeskog #92 of Team Sweden in overtime during the Men’s Quarterfinals Playoff match between the United States and Sweden on day 12 of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on February 18, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
MILAN, ITALY – FEBRUARY 18: Players of Team United States congratulate Connor Hellebuyck #37 after defeating Sweden 2-1 in overtime during the Men’s Quarterfinals Playoff match between the United States and Sweden on day 12 of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on February 18, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
United States’ Quinn Hughes (43) shoots and scores his team’s second goal to win the men’s ice hockey quarterfinal game between the United States and Sweden at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026. (Alexander Nemenov/Pool Photo via AP)
United States’ goalkeeper Connor Hellebuyck (37) and Brock Faber (14) defend against Sweden’s Gabriel Landeskog (92) during a men’s ice hockey quarterfinal game between the United States and Sweden at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
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