MILAN – Jack Hughes (Canton, Mich./New Jersey Devils) netted two goals, while Zach Werenski (Grosse Pointe Woods, Mich./Columbus Blue Jackets) contributed three assists, propelling the U.S. Olympic Men’s Ice Hockey Team to a 6-2 triumph over Slovakia in the semifinal stage of the 2026 Olympic Winter Games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena.
With this victory, Team USA progressed to the gold-medal match against Canada, scheduled for Sunday (Feb. 22) at 2:10 p.m. CET (8:10 a.m. ET) at Milano Santagiulia Arena. The contest will be aired live on NBC and available for streaming on Peacock.
“It was encouraging to see us start strong, and I believe that was crucial,” stated Mike Sullivan, head coach of the U.S. Olympic Men’s Ice Hockey Team. “Our team continues to make progress, and it's a genuinely enjoyable group to coach with a lot of character.”
Team USA took an early 1-0 advantage just 4:19 into the game when Dylan Larkin (Waterford, Mich./Detroit Red Wings) emerged from the U.S. bench, received a pass from Werenski while crossing the neutral zone, and carried the puck into the high slot before firing home the opening goal.
GAME PHOTOS
With 41 seconds left in the first period, while the U.S. was on a power play, Jack Eichel (North Chelmsford, Mass./Vegas Golden Knights) made a no-look pass to Tage Thompson (Orange, Conn./Buffalo Sabres) positioned at the bottom of the left circle, who executed a one-timer short-side past Slovak goaltender Samuel Hlavaj to extend the U.S. lead.
Jack Hughes increased Team USA’s advantage to 3-0 at the 12:14 mark of the second period, outmaneuvering a defender with a deke onto his forehand at the point before scoring with a shot into the top-left corner. Werenski assisted on the play.
Only 19 seconds later, a vigorous forecheck by Matthew Tkachuk (St. Louis, Mo./Florida Panthers) resulted in Brady Tkachuk (St. Louis, Mo./Ottawa Senators) forcing a turnover in the offensive zone and quickly passing to Eichel in the slot, who deked to his backhand and scored top-shelf to beat Hlavaj.
With 1:36 remaining in the second period, a shot from Werenski missed the target and rebounded off the boards to Jack Hughes at the left circle, who scored his second goal of the game with a one-timer, putting the U.S. ahead 5-0.
Juraj Slavkovsky put Slovakia on the scoreboard 4:55 into the third period, netting a wrist shot from the slot.
With 9:08 left in the game, Brady Tkachuk converted a breakaway opportunity with a backhand finish, bringing the score to 6-1. Vincent Trocheck (Pittsburgh, Pa./New York Rangers) and Noah Hanifin (Norwood, Mass./Vegas Golden Knights) provided assists on the goal.
An odd-man rush for Slovakia resulted in a goal by Pavol Regenda with 6:43 remaining, finalizing the score at 6-2.
Connor Hellebuyck (Commerce, Mich./Winnipeg Jets) recorded 22 saves to secure the win in goal for the U.S.
NOTES: Team USA outshot Slovakia, 39-24 … The U.S. converted 1-5 on the power play, while Slovakia went 0-5
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