Maize and Blue Blood Powers Team USA to Dramatic Overtime Victory Over Sweden

MILAN, ITALY — In a game that felt more like a chess match than a track meet for sixty minutes, the United States men’s hockey team found their spark from a familiar source: Ann Arbor. Behind goals from former University of Michigan stars Dylan Larkin and Quinn Hughes, Team USA secured a thrilling 2-1 overtime victory against Sweden on Wednesday, punching their ticket to the Olympic semifinals.

The victory wasn't just a win for the Red, White, and Blue; it was a definitive statement for the "Michigan Mafia" currently populating the American roster.

A Defensive Deadlock Broken

For the first half of the game, the story was the goaltending. USA’s Connor Hellebuyck and Sweden’s Jacob Markstrom traded spectacular saves, keeping the game scoreless through a tense first period. The Americans struggled to find space against a disciplined Swedish defense that seemed content to wait for a mistake.

The breakthrough finally came midway through the second period. Jack Hughes, the elite center, and brother of Quinn Hughes, collected the puck at the blue line and fired a low, hard shot toward the net. Positioned perfectly in the high slot was Dylan Larkin. The Detroit Red Wings captain, who played for the Wolverines during the 2014-15 season, redirected the puck with a clinical touch, sending it past Markstrom to give the U.S. a 1-0 lead.

The Late Heartbreak

The U.S. appeared poised to milk that single goal all the way to the buzzer. Hellebuyck was a wall, turning aside 26 consecutive shots as the clock ticked down. However, with just 1:31 remaining in regulation and Markstrom pulled for an extra attacker, Sweden found their opening. Lucas Raymond found Mika Zibanejad for a blistering one-timer that finally beat Hellebuyck, silencing the American fans and sending the quarterfinal into a sudden-death, three-on-three overtime.

The Michigan Connection Strikes Again

Overtime at the 2026 Olympics is a theater for the world’s most skilled skaters, and there is arguably no skater in the world more fluid than Quinn Hughes. After the U.S. survived an early flurry from the Swedes, Hughes took control.

Waving off a line change to stay on the ice, Hughes gathered speed in the neutral zone, entered the Swedish end, and used his signature lateral movement to create a lane. He didn't look for the pass this time. Instead, he unleashed a laser that caught the inside post of the net at the 3:27 mark of the extra session.

Wolverines on the World Stage

The impact of the University of Michigan on this specific victory cannot be overstated.

The two players represent different eras of Michigan hockey, but they share the same pedigree. Larkin's gritty, high-motor style combined with Hughes’ cerebral, puck-moving brilliance has become the engine of this American squad.

The U.S. now moves on to face Slovakia in the semifinals on Friday, while Sweden is left to wonder what might have been. For the Americans, the path to gold is still open, and as long as their "Michigan Men" are finding the back of the net, they remain the team to beat in Milan.

The stage is set for an epic semifinal showdown. With the quarterfinal thrillers in the books, Team USA will look to carry that "Michigan momentum" into their next battle.

Here are the details for the upcoming matchup:

Slovakia enters the semifinals as a dangerous underdog after dismantling Germany 6-2 in their quarterfinal. While the U.S. has the star power of the Hughes brothers and Dylan Larkin, Slovakia has shown incredible grit, led by the rising stardom of Juraj Slafkovský.

The Americans are currently heavy favorites (opening at -850 on the moneyline), but they can’t afford a slow start. Slovakia actually topped their group earlier in the tournament, proving they can hang with the world’s elite.

What to Watch For:

The winner of USA-Slovakia will face the winner of the earlier semifinal: