Quinn Hughes Delivers in Overtime Thriller (Image Credits: Upload.wikimedia.org)
Milan – The U.S. men’s hockey team heads into Friday’s semifinal against Slovakia riding momentum from an overtime quarterfinal triumph, with a potential gold-medal matchup against Canada on the line Sunday.[1][2]
Quinn Hughes Delivers in Overtime Thriller
Quinn Hughes emerged as the hero in the quarterfinals. He scored the game-winning goal at 3:27 of overtime against Sweden, firing a wrist shot into the slot after a feed from Matt Boldy and Auston Matthews. The defenseman also earned a secondary assist on Dylan Larkin’s regulation tally, which came at 11:03 of the second period via a redirection of Jack Hughes’ one-timer.[1][3]
Connor Hellebuyck anchored the net with 28 saves, thwarting Sweden’s late push. Sweden equalized at 1-1 with 1:31 left in regulation when Mika Zibanejad converted with an extra attacker. Team USA outshot its opponent 40-29 but went scoreless on the power play. Coach Mike Sullivan praised his squad’s resilience afterward.[1]
Slovakia Powers Through Group and Quarterfinals
Slovakia claimed the top spot in Group B despite tying Finland on points, advancing on head-to-head goal differential. The team then dismantled Germany 6-2 in the quarterfinals. Juraj Slafkovsky paced the tournament with seven points, including three goals and four assists. Dalibor Dvorsky contributed six points in support.[2][4]
The Slovaks boast the second-best scoring efficiency at 12.31 percent. They topped a tough group that included Finland and Sweden. Bronze medalists from Beijing 2022, they continue to defy expectations as an underdog force.[5]
Head-to-Head Rivalry Heats Up
These nations have clashed six times at the Olympics. Slovakia stunned the U.S. 3-2 in overtime during the 2022 Beijing quarterfinals. Team USA responded with victories in 2018, winning 2-1 and 5-1. Earlier meetings include a U.S. 7-1 rout in 2014 and a Slovak 2-1 edge in 2006.[2]
The semifinal unfolds at PalaItalia in Milan at 21:10 CET. The winner advances to Sunday’s gold-medal game, likely against Canada, who faces Finland in the other semifinal. A bronze-medal contest follows Saturday.[4]
Star Power Defines the Lineups
Team USA fields NHL talent under coach Mike Sullivan. Hellebuyck leads goalies with a 95.77 save percentage. Auston Matthews captains the second line with six points.
- Top forward line: Brady Tkachuk – Jack Eichel – Matthew Tkachuk
- Second: Jake Guentzel – Auston Matthews – Matt Boldy
- Third: Jack Hughes – Dylan Larkin – Tage Thompson
- Defense pairs: Quinn Hughes – Charlie McAvoy; Jaccob Slavin – Brock Faber
Slovakia counters with Slafkovsky centering Tomas Tatar. Samuel Hlavaj starts in net.[5][2]
| Team | Key Stat Leader | Tournament Goals Against |
|---|---|---|
| USA | Hellebuyck (.957 SV%) | 6 in 4 games |
| Slovakia | Slafkovsky (7 pts) | Second-best scoring efficiency |
Key Takeaways
- USA seeks first men’s gold since 1980 Miracle on Ice.
- Slovakia’s upset potential echoes 2022 quarterfinal win.
- Winner eyes Canada in gold-medal finale.
Victory Friday propels Team USA toward Olympic immortality. Slovakia stands ready to extend the drama. What do you think will happen in Milan? Tell us in the comments.