In a tense quarterfinal matchup at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics, the USA men's ice hockey team narrowly defeated Sweden 2-1 thanks to a golden goal in overtime scored by Quinn Hughes. This victory allowed the USA to advance to the semifinals, where they will face Slovakia, who recently triumphed over Germany. In the other quarterfinals, Canada also emerged victorious against the Czech Republic with a remarkable 4-3 overtime win, securing their place in the semifinals against Finland.

Both the USA and Canada, considered heavyweight contenders in the tournament, demonstrated their prowess as they navigate through the challenges in the knockout rounds. Quinn Hughes highlighted the intensity of these matches, likening every game to a Game 7 battle. The anticipation builds for a potential showdown between the USA and Canada in the final, should both teams continue their undefeated streaks in the tournament. The excitement surrounding the semifinals underscores the competitive spirit within men's ice hockey at this level, especially at the Olympic stage.

The tournament has also been marked by challenges, including injuries to key players such as Canada’s star Sidney Crosby, who sustained an injury during the quarterfinal against the Czech Republic. This raises concerns about his availability for the upcoming semifinals. As both teams prepare for their next matches, the stakes are high, and the atmosphere will undoubtedly be charged as they aim for a spot in the finals and a chance to compete for Olympic gold.