Lead: On Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026 in Milan, Team USA edged Sweden 2-1 in a dramatic quarterfinal that ended on Quinn Hughes’ overtime winner, sending the Americans into the semifinals. The match was tied 1-1 after Mika Zibanejad equalized with 1:31 left in regulation; a 10-minute, three-on-three sudden-death overtime followed. Dylan Larkin opened the scoring for the U.S., and goaltender Connor Hellebuyck finished with 28 saves on 29 shots. The Americans will meet Slovakia in the semifinal on Friday at 3:10 p.m. ET.
Key Takeaways
- Final score: USA 2, Sweden 1 (OT); Quinn Hughes scored the overtime winner to decide the quarterfinal.
- Dylan Larkin scored the game’s first goal after deflecting a Jack Hughes slapshot into the net.
- Connor Hellebuyck stopped 28 of 29 shots, carrying the U.S. through tense moments, including a late third-period surge by Sweden.
- Mika Zibanejad tied the game for Sweden with 1:31 remaining in regulation on a one-timer set up by Lucas Raymond (Raymond recorded his ninth point of the Olympics).
- Overtime was played as a 10-minute, three-on-three sudden-death session; Hughes finished the sequence by beating Jacob Markstrom.
- Victor Hedman did not play due to a lower-body injury sustained in warmups; Sweden adjusted its defensive pairings accordingly.
- The U.S. penalty kill remained strong throughout the tournament and successfully defended key shorthanded sequences in this game.
Background
The 2026 Winter Olympics men’s hockey bracket arrived in Milan with high expectations for both nations. Team USA entered the knockout rounds carrying a mix of NHL veterans and younger pros who had performed well in group play, while Sweden fielded a roster stacked with elite NHL talent, including forwards and defensemen known for special teams production.
Historically, U.S.–Sweden matchups are tight affairs where goaltending and special teams often decide outcomes. Ahead of this quarterfinal, the U.S. had shown a reliable penalty kill and balanced defense, whereas Sweden relied on puck possession and power-play firepower from players such as William Nylander and Rasmus Dahlin.
Stakeholders on both sides—national federations, NHL clubs monitoring player usage, and fans—viewed this game as a barometer for Olympic momentum. A win would keep the U.S. on a path to a medal game, while Sweden sought to extend the depth and experience that has delivered podium finishes in previous tournaments.
Main Event
The contest opened with measured play as each side probed for space and safe zone exits. The U.S. gradually grew into the game and executed a set play in the second period: Jack Hughes blasted a slapshot from the point that Dylan Larkin redirected past Jacob Markstrom for the first goal.
Sweden pressed back, and the Americans weathered extended pressure at times—most notably killing penalties and blocking dangerous chances. J.T. Miller recorded a key block on the penalty kill, and Hellebuyck made several timely saves to keep the one-goal margin intact as periods progressed.
With 1:31 remaining in regulation Sweden pulled Markstrom for an extra attacker and Lucas Raymond fed Mika Zibanejad, who fired a one-timer to tie the score 1-1. That dramatic late equalizer forced the match into a three-on-three overtime format used at the Olympics: a single 10-minute sudden-death period, followed by a shootout if needed.
In overtime the Americans regained control of the pace and possession. After regrouping offensively, Quinn Hughes stayed on the ice following a waved-off change, circled through the offensive zone and beat Markstrom with a precise shot to clinch the victory and send the U.S. on to face Slovakia in the semifinal on Friday at 3:10 p.m. ET.
Analysis & Implications
From a tactical standpoint, the U.S. victory underlines the tournament value of structure and goaltending. Hellebuyck’s 28 saves on 29 shots limited Sweden’s conversion despite the Swedes generating prolonged possession and high-event sequences late in the third period. In single-elimination play, a hot goalie frequently dictates which team advances.
Special teams and late-game decision-making were decisive. Sweden’s decision to pull the goalie produced the tying goal, a common risk-reward calculation in modern hockey; conversely, the U.S. penalty kill held firm earlier and preserved the lead until the late equalizer. Teams that can both finish on the power play and defend while shorthanded retain a structural edge in knockout rounds.
Looking ahead, the U.S. will face Slovakia—an opponent that typically emphasizes structure, disciplined neutral-zone play and opportunistic offense. The Americans must balance puck management and transition speed: maintaining offensive pressure without inviting high-danger turnovers that Slovakia can exploit.
On the Swedish side, the loss highlights depth questions when an established star like Victor Hedman is unavailable; the team’s ability to reconfigure its blue line underlines its depth, but losing a top-pairing defenseman in a tight game can change matchup outcomes. Sweden’s core talent still projects them as medal contenders, but they must address late-game finishing against elite goaltending.
Comparison & Data
| Stat | USA | Sweden |
|---|---|---|
| Final score | 2 | 1 (OT) |
| Goaltender saves | Connor Hellebuyck 28 (on 29) | Jacob Markstrom (surrendered 2) |
| Shots (2nd period) | 20 | 8 |
| Overtime format | 10-minute three-on-three sudden-death | |
Context: The U.S. dominated the second period in shots (20-8), which produced its lone regulation goal. Sweden generated more sustained pressure late in the game, culminating in the equalizer with the goalie pulled—then yielded in a short overtime window where the Americans found the decisive chance.
Reactions & Quotes
“We kept competing and found the finish when it mattered,”
U.S. team representative (postgame)
The U.S. representative framed the win as collective and character-driven, pointing to the team’s resilience after the late equalizer.
“It was a tough end to regulation; we pushed, but it didn’t go our way in OT,”
Sweden team spokesperson (postgame)
Sweden acknowledged the narrow margin and highlighted how the absence of Victor Hedman changed matchups on the back end.
Unconfirmed
- Exact recovery timeline and severity for Victor Hedman’s lower-body injury have not been officially released.
- Lineup changes and usage adjustments for the U.S. and Sweden ahead of the next round remain subject to coaching decisions and will be confirmed in pregame reports.
- Any long-term fatigue impact from this overtime contest on U.S. players before the Friday semifinal with Slovakia has not been quantified by team medical staff.
Bottom Line
This quarterfinal win underscores two durable truths in Olympic hockey: elite goaltending and disciplined team structure win tight knockout games. Connor Hellebuyck’s performance and the U.S. special teams resilience were decisive factors in a match that swung late and required clutch play in overtime.
For the Americans, the path forward requires maintaining puck discipline and generating sustained high-danger chances against Slovakia on Friday at 3:10 p.m. ET. Sweden departs with lessons about depth and late-game finishing but remains a strong medal contender if its roster returns to full health.
Sources
- CBS Sports — (media: game report and live updates)
- Olympics.com — (official: Olympic schedule and tournament format)
- USA Hockey — (official: team announcements and roster information)