U.S. men’s hockey outlasts Sweden in OT; Final four matchups set for Olympic tournament

U.S. head coach Mike Sullivan told the men’s hockey team prior to the quarterfinal matchup with Sweden to consider it a “Game 7.”

However, the showdown ended up being even better than playoff hockey

Dylan Larkin scored the only goal in regulation in the second period to give the U.S. a 1-0 lead over Sweden for the game. 

It looked as if the United States would hold on to move on to the final four, but Sweden’s Mika Zibanejad wasn’t much for that plan.

Zibanejad scored with just over a minute and a half to go to send the game to overtime, tied up 1-1.

The three-on-three overtime period lasted under four minutes.

It was Quinn Hughes who found the back of the net to keep Team USA’s medal hopes alive with a win 2-1 over Sweden.

The United States advances to the semifinal on Feb. 20 against Slovakia.