Workforce USA males’s hockey will play for Olympic medal after win over Sweden : NPR

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Hassan Ammar/AP/AP MILAN — For 5 terrifying minutes on Wednesday evening, the U.S. males's hockey crew's goals had been one aim away from ending far earlier than they'd hoped.

As an alternative, the People will advance to the Olympic semifinals — and a assured probability to play for what can be the crew's first medal since 2010 — after successful an extra time thriller 2-1 within the quarterfinal recreation in opposition to Sweden.

"We acquired guys which have received [Stanley] Cups and gone deep within the playoffs and superstars within the league, so I really feel prefer it's a resilient group and lots of expertise. You simply choose your self again up, get able to go," stated defenseman Quinn Hughes, who scored the game-winning aim 3:27 into further time.

Within the first three video games in Milan, Workforce USA had scored 5 targets, then six targets, then 5 once more. However on Wednesday, in opposition to a Swedish crew that had fallen unexpectedly to the No. 7 seed after getting upset within the preliminary stage of the Olympic match, the People wanted heroics on the defensive facet to remain alive.

U.S. goaltender Connor Hellebuyck, who final yr was named the NHL's most beneficial participant, saved all however one among Sweden's 29 photographs on aim. The one, although, got here with simply 91 seconds to play in regulation, on a one-timer from Sweden ahead Mika Zibanejad from the faceoff circle to tie the sport.

Then, a tense, fast-paced 3-on-3 extra time adopted, ending with the sudden-death aim from Hughes previous the outstretched glove of Sweden's goaltender, Jacob Markstrom.

Afterward, U.S. teammate Matthew Tkachuk stated he wasn't certain at first if the puck had gone in or bounced off the submit. "However as soon as I heard the roar and [saw] him begin to rejoice, it was undoubtedly the very best I've jumped since my surgical procedure," joked Tkachuk, who underwent an operation final summer time to restore a torn adductor muscle and sports activities hernia. "So I may need to get the froth curler out afterwards."

The People took a 1-0 lead within the second interval when ahead Dylan Larkin redirected a rocket from ahead Jack Hughes (brother of teammate Quinn Hughes) over Markstrom's shoulder.

However Workforce USA did not convert on a number of alternatives to pad that lead, resulting in a tense third interval because the Swedes mounted probability after probability earlier than their late-game equalizer.

"That is what occurs if you put two actually good groups collectively. You assume that it should be a high-flying offense, but it surely's truly fairly the other," stated winger Tkachuk. "It took one man to make a play on the finish, and that was Quinn."

The win means the U.S. males could have the possibility to play for a medal it doesn't matter what occurs in Friday's semifinal in opposition to Slovakia. A win will ship the People by to the gold medal match on Sunday, whereas a loss would set them up for Saturday's bronze medal match.

"It is going to be an enormous, large check for us," stated Tkachuk. "Their goalie's taking part in unimaginable. Our goalie is taking part in unimaginable. It is going to make for a hell of a semifinal."

Canada survives its personal extra time recreation

On the opposite facet of the bracket, Canada survived an upset bid by Czechia, who led 3-2 with lower than 8 minutes to play within the third interval. A loss would have been surprising; Canada's roster is stacked with many of the sport's finest energetic gamers, from three-time Hart Memorial Trophy winner Connor McDavid to the 19-year-old phenom Macklin Celebrini.

"It is by no means enjoyable, , six minutes left, them scoring a aim — however that is hockey. It is Olympic hockey," stated Nathan MacKinnon. "We performed a fairly stable recreation. It wasn't good, however ok."

Workforce captain Sidney Crosby, who received Olympic gold within the 2010 and 2014 Olympics, left the sport within the second interval with a decrease leg damage after a pair of robust collisions with Czech gamers. It was unclear if or when Crosby would return.