United States and Canada Win Overtime Quarterfinals, Advance to Friday Semifinals
Updated (4 articles)
U.S. and Canada Secure Overtime Wins to Reach Semifinals The United States edged Sweden 2‑1 in overtime, with Quinn Hughes scoring the winner after Mika Zibanejad tied the game with 91 seconds left; goaltender Connor Hellebuyck made 28 saves, including a Grade‑A stop on Lucas Raymond [1]. Canada survived a 4‑3 overtime thriller against Czechia, Nick Suzuki tying the game with 3:27 remaining and Mitch Marner netting the OT goal; veteran Sidney Crosby had left the tournament earlier due to injury [1]. Both victories set up a potential North American gold‑medal clash on Sunday.
Friday’s Semifinal Pairings Confirmed The United States will meet Slovakia in the first semifinal on Friday, while Canada faces Finland in the other matchup, keeping a U.S.–Canada final possible [1]. The schedule places both North American teams on the same day, heightening anticipation for a possible gold‑medal showdown.
Pre‑Tournament Dominance Fuels Momentum The U.S. posted dominant round‑robin results—5‑1 over Latvia, 6‑3 over Denmark, and 5‑1 over Germany—solidifying Connor Hellebuyck as the starter and giving coach Mike Sullivan confidence heading into the knockout round [2][4]. Canada entered the tournament as the top seed, boasting Connor McDavid’s nine points, Macklin Celebrini’s four goals, and a +17 goal differential, with Brad Marchand and Josh Morrissey cleared to play [4]. This is the first Winter Games since 2014 to feature active NHL players, adding depth and prestige to the competition [2][3].
Players Describe Tension and Relief After Thrilling Wins After the quarterfinals, Dylan Larkin called the experience “as nervous as I’ve ever been in a hockey game,” while Drew Doughty admitted it was “a little nerve‑wracking” and Quinn Hughes simply felt “relief” [1]. Coach Jon Cooper praised his squad’s faith and highlighted Mitch Marner’s “it factor” in Canada’s OT victory.
Sources
-
1.
AP: U.S. and Canada Advance to Olympic Hockey Semifinals After Overtime Thrillers: Details the OT quarterfinal victories, key scorers, Crosby’s injury, and the upcoming semifinals.
-
2.
WBNS: USA Men’s Hockey Quarterfinals and Olympic Highlights: Provides the quarterfinal schedule, notes the return of NHL players after 12 years, and outlines U.S. preliminary dominance and Hellebuyck’s role.
-
3.
King5: USA Men’s Hockey Quarterfinals and Olympic Highlights: Mirrors WBNS coverage, emphasizing broadcast details, NHL participation, and U.S. round‑robin performance.
-
4.
AP: Canada and USA Set for Quarterfinal Showdowns at Milan 2026 Olympics: Announces quarterfinal matchups, highlights Canada’s scoring leaders and +17 goal differential, and describes Sweden’s seventh‑seed status.
Related Tickers
Timeline
2014 – The Winter Olympics last feature active NHL players, ending a 12‑year hiatus that returns at Milan 2026 and dramatically raises the tournament’s prestige and competitive depth. [3]
2022 – Juraj Slafkovsky earns MVP honors at the Beijing Games, establishing him as a marquee talent heading into Milan 2026. [2]
Feb 17, 2026 – The Olympic men’s hockey quarterfinal bracket is set: Canada faces Czechia, the United States meets Sweden, Finland takes on Switzerland, and Slovakia battles Germany; Canada enters as the top seed with Connor McDavid leading the scoring chart with nine points. [2]
Feb 17, 2026 – Czech forward David Pastrnak praises Canada’s firepower, calling the North American squad “maybe the best team ever” after a 5‑0 loss to Canada in the prelims. [2]
Feb 18, 2026 – The United States posts dominant preliminary results (5‑1 over Latvia, 6‑3 over Denmark, 5‑1 over Germany), cementing Connor Hellebuyck as the starting goaltender and prompting coach Mike Sullivan to stress rising stakes. [3][4]
Feb 18, 2026 – Sweden, seeded seventh after a qualification win over Latvia and a late‑goal loss in a 5‑3 round‑robin finish, secures its quarterfinal spot against the United States. [3][4]
Feb 18, 2026 – Alpine star Mikaela Shiffrin, after placing 15th in the team‑combine slalom and 11th in the giant slalom, prepares to race the women’s slalom later that day, with runs scheduled for 4:00 a.m. and 7:30 a.m. ET. [3][4]
Feb 18, 2026 – The men’s snowboard slopestyle final kicks off at 5:20 a.m. ET, featuring Canada’s Mark McMorris (returning from concussion), USA’s Red Gerard, and 17‑year‑old Ollie Martin, all vying for gold. [3][4]
Feb 18, 2026 – In the quarterfinals, the United States defeats Sweden 2‑1 in overtime on a Quinn Hughes goal, with Connor Hellebuyck making 28 saves; players describe the win as “relief” and “as nervous as I’ve ever been in a hockey game.” [1]
Feb 18, 2026 – Canada survives a 4‑3 overtime thriller over Czechia, with Mitch Marner scoring 1:12 into OT after Nick Suzuki’s late equalizer; Sidney Crosby sits out after an earlier injury, and teammates note the “it factor” of Marner’s play. [1]
Feb 18, 2026 – Finland rallies to beat Switzerland 3‑2 in OT, Miro Heiskanen ties the game with 72 seconds left and Artturi Lehkonen nets the winner, completing a comeback victory. [1]
Feb 18, 2026 – Slovakia reaches the semifinals with a 6‑2 win over Germany; Juraj Slafkovsky suffers a head‑first board impact but confirms he is fine, while Dalibor Dvorsky and Pavol Regenda lead the offense. [1]
Feb 20, 2026 – The United States is slated to meet Slovakia in the semifinal, keeping a potential U.S.–Canada gold‑medal clash alive for Sunday. [1]
Feb 20, 2026 – Canada is set to face Finland in the other semifinal, preserving the possibility of a North American final on Sunday. [1]
Feb 22, 2026 – The Olympic men’s hockey gold‑medal game is scheduled for Sunday, with the United States and Canada positioned as the likely contenders. [1]