Team USA punched its ticket to the men’s hockey semifinals in Milan‑Cortina after a dramatic 2–1 overtime win against Sweden, a victory defined by Quinn Hughes’ late heroics and sudden‑death hockey drama.
The Americans now await a semifinal clash with Slovakia, a team that surprised many by cruising past Germany with a convincing performance in the quarters. Their run to the last four has added an unexpected twist to this Olympic bracket.
With a spot in the gold medal game at stake and the clock ticking toward puck drop, the stage is set for a semifinal where strategy, puck possession and goaltending depth all loom large in the 2026 Winter Olympics.
What happens if USA beats Slovakia?
A win for Team USA over Slovakia in the Milan‑Cortina semifinals would send the Americans straight into the Olympic gold medal game on Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026, keeping their bid alive for a first men’s hockey gold since the 1980 “Miracle on Ice”.
Quinn Hughes and Auston Matthews during the 2026 Winter Olympic games (Source: Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
The Olympic bracket is single‑elimination at this stage, so a triumph means Team USA moves forward to face the winner of the Canada‑Finland matchup in the title contest. Technically, in the Olympic semifinal format the score must be resolved.
For Slovakia, a defeat in this situation would be heartbreaking but not the end of the tournament. Team USA would simply step closer to gold while Slovakia would regroup for the bronze medal game, where the stakes shift but the competition remains fierce.
What happens if USA and Slovakia tie?
In Olympic knockout hockey at the 2026 Winter Games, a tie after regulation can’t decide the game — and so if USA and Slovakia are level after the standard three 20‑minute periods, the contest goes into sudden‑death overtime.
The first phase is a 10‑minute 3‑on‑3 session, designed to open the ice and favor attacking play; if no goal is scored, the match moves to a shootout where shooters alternate attempts to decide the winner.
Unlike the group stage where ties can earn each side a point toward standings, the semifinals treat every contest as an elimination game and that reshapes how teams manage time and strategy in close encounters.
What happens if USA loses to Slovakia today?
A loss to Slovakia would drop Team USA out of contention for the gold medal final, but it would not end their Olympic journey. The IIHF‑organized bracket for Milan‑Cortina 2026 ensures that both semifinal losers play again in a bronze medal game the following day.
For Slovakia, a victory here would be historic while the United States would shift focus to the third‑place match, where tactics, lineups and goaltending would likely be recalibrated around that new objective.
This structure keeps the drama alive for hockey fans through the weekend: even after the sting of a semifinal loss, there’s still a medal and a moment of redemption up for grabs.
