The semifinals in men’s Olympic ice hockey is officially set.
The United States hopes of winning gold remain alive and well after a thrilling 2-1 overtime win over Sweden in Olympic quarterfinals on Thursday.
Defenseman Quinn Hughes was overtime hero, as he sniped home a shot from the point past Swedish goaltender Jacob Markstrom to lift the U.S. to victory.
Team USA will now play Slovakia in the semis with one more win sending the U.S. back to the gold medal game for the first time in 16 years.
United States goaltender Connor Hellebuyck turned aside 28 of 29 shots in what was one of his best performances so far in this Olympic tournament.
The lone regulation goal of the game for the United States was scored by forward Dylan Larkin, as the Detroit Red Wings captain deflected in a shot past Markstrom.
Team USA’s overtime victory is the cherry on top of one of the most memorable days in recent Olympic men’s ice hockey history, with three of the four quarterfinal contests requiring sudden death overtime in these must-win games.
Here’s was our live coverage and analysis throughout the thrilling United States-Sweden quarterfinal game:
Date: Friday, Feb. 20
Time: 3:10 p.m. ET
Channel: NBC
Streaming: Peacock
The United States and Slovakia will drop the puck on Friday, Feb. 18 at 3:10 p.m., with the game airing on NBC and streaming on Peacock.
Quinn Hughes calls game!
The Minnesota Wild star defenseman ends it as he scores the game-winner to send the United States to the semifinals in the 2026 Winter Olympic Games.
Regulation is not enough as United States-Sweden is heading to overtime with the next goal determining whether one team is advancing to the semifinals and the other going home without a medal.
This is must-see hockey as USA-Sweden is now officially the third overtime quarterfinal game of the day.
Oh no.
Sweden has tied the game with 91 seconds left in regulation as Rangers’ forward Mika Zibanejad finds the back of the net to keep their hopes alive in the dying minutes of the game.
It’s a brand new game with overtime on the horizon.
Time is winding down and the United States is still holding on to a one-goal lead.
Team USA’s defense has really tightened over the second half of this game, not allowing too many open ice opportunities on goaltender Connor Hellebuyck.
If U.S. continues to this play it’ll be really hard for Sweden to tie this one up in a must-win game,
USA and Rangers’ forward Vincent Trocheck takes the team’s first penalty game.
Sweden is unable to capitalize on the man advantage as United States slim lead remains.
The U.S. still has yet to allow a power play goal to their opponent through 11 periods of play so far.
After sitting for the entire first 40 minutes, Swedish forward and Devils’ star Jesper Bratt checks into the game for the first time early in the third period.
Sweden head coach Sam Hallam has been criticized throughout his tournament for his usage of certain players and Bratt’s the latest victim.
The United States and Sweden final regulation period has arrived.
Buckle up.
40 minutes down, 20 to go.
Dylan Larkin’s goal remains the difference maker in this one as it’s the lone goal of the contest.
After Sweden had a strong start the period, the United States really had their way in terms of puck action.
It was evident in the shot column as Team USA outshot Sweden 20-8 in the second and are also owning the faceoff dot, winning 64 percent of the faceoffs through two periods.
The U.S. knows they’re going to get Sweden’s best over the next 20 minutes.
Will the United States be able to hang on and advance? Time will tell.
Just over the 32 minutes into the game, the United States has opened the scoring.
Forward Dylan Larkin deflected a Jack Hughes slapshot and it finds the back of the net to put USA up 1-0 just under the nine-minute mark in the second period.
It’s Larkin’s — the captain of the Detroit Red Wings — first goal of the tournament.
A huge spot for Larkin and Team USA to lead first scoring a goal on a set play in this must-win game.
Both Hughes brothers — Jack and Quinn — picked up the assists for the United States.
The United States had their best chance of the game and could not convert.
Forward Jake Guentzel received a quick saucer pass from teammate and Team USA captain Auston Matthews but could not convert in close as this game remains scoreless nearing the halfway point.
Victor Hedman, one of Sweden’s best defenseman and an alternate captain, has not played a single shift against the United States.
Reports have found that Sweden head coach Sam Hallam said at intermission that Hedman suffered an injury in warm-ups and will unlikely be available for the rest of this game.
A huge loss on the back end for Sweden.
The game is back on as the second period has started between USA and Sweden.
The first period has come to a close as neither team was able to get on the board yet.
Shot are dead even at 10-10, with both the USA and Sweden having just a few high-danger scoring chances so far.
The United States came out of the gates with a hot start, but Sweden found their footing and spent more time in the offensive zone as the period went along.
USA-Sweden remains scoreless as time is winding down over the opening 20 minutes of play.
The game has evened out since the beginning, with the most recent chance being a Devil-on-Devil action as Sweden’s and Devils’ starting goaltender Jacob Markstrom made a save on a great chance from his New Jersey teammate and assistant captain Jack Hughes
Nearing the halfway point of the opening period and it’s been a tale of two starts so far as we reach the games first TV timeout.
United States controlled play to start, including a power play that they had quality chances on but came up empty on their first man advantage.
Then it was Sweden’s turn, who after being outshot 6-0 has had a majority of play in the offensive zone that included some good opportunities but the game remains scoreless for now.
The last semifinal of the day has started with the United States and Sweden getting the action started shortly after 3 p.m. on the East Coast.
Buckle up for what should be a fun one between two of the sports best.
The quarterfinals have showcased some of the best hockey of this tournament so far.
After Slovakia dominated Germany 6-2 early this morning, the afternoon slate was a roller coaster of two games that required more than regulation.
No. 1 seed Canada tied the game late in the third period and survived a potential historic upset with a 4-3 in overtime win over No. 8 seed Czechia.
That was not to be outdone by No. 4 seed Finland, who rallied from a two-goal first period deficit and won 3-2 in overtime over No. 5 seed Switzerland as the defending Olympic men’s ice hockey champions have advanced to the semifinals.
TV channel: NBC
Streaming:Peacock
Odds: USA by 1.5 goals
Over/Under: 6.5 goals
Moneyline: USA (-275), Sweden (+220)
The answer is yes.
After the quarterfinal round on Wednesday, the teams will then be reseeded heading into the semifinals.
Here are the seeds for all eight teams who made it to the quarterfinals:
No. 1: Canada
No. 2: United States
No. 3: Slovakia
No. 4: Finland
No. 5: Switzerland
No. 6: Germany
No. 7: Sweden
No. 8: Czechia
Here’s the complete schedule and results for each quarterfinal game in men’s ice hockey for the 2026 Winter Olympic Games that take place throughout the day on Wednesday, Feb. 18:
Slovakia 6, Germany 2
Canada 4, Czechia 3 (OT)
Switzerland 2, Finland 1 (in progress)
3:10 p.m. — USA vs. Sweden (NBC, Peacock)
Here’s USA men’s hockey complete schedule and results for the 2026 Winter Olympic Games:
Thursday, Feb. 12
Saturday, Feb. 14
Sunday, Feb. 15
Wednesday, Feb. 18: Quarterfinals
Friday, Feb. 20 — Semifinals
Saturday, Feb. 21 — Bronze medal game — 2:10 p.m.
Sunday, Feb. 22 — Gold medal game — 8:10 a.m.
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