MN Wild Superstar Quinn Hughes Saves Team USA in Olympic OT

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Minnesota Wild defenseman Quinn Hughes - Team USA - 2026 Winter Olympics
Credit: Amber Searls-Imagn Images

Team USA played its first medal round game of the 2026 Winter Olympics on Wednesday against Sweden, a matchup in Milan that featured over a half-dozen Minnesota Wild players between the two teams.

MN Wild star Quinn Hughes scores OT winner for Team USA

After the U.S. took a 1-0 first period lead, they failed to get another puck over the Swedish goal line four 2.5 periods, which almost cost them a chance to move on when NY Rangers Captain Mika Zibanejad tied the game with just over one minute remaining in the third period.

That sent the contest into overtime, where had the United States lost, they would have been out of contention for the Gold Medal. Instead, the Minnesota Wild’s newly acquired superstar defenseman, Quinn Hughes, put on his American Flag superhero cape, scoring the OT winner. It was his sixth point of the tournament (second goal).

Related: NJ Devils Edit MN Wild Star Out of Olympic Photo

Beyond Hughes, the Red, White and Blue roster standouts Quinn Hughes, Matt Boldy and Brock Faber. Sweden is anchored by Joel Eriksson Ek up the middle. Marcus Johansson also made the club, as did both goalies Filip Gustavsson and Jesper Wallstedt — neither of whom played today. Jonas Brodin is out due to injury.

Clearly, the Swedes made the correct call in net because Jacob Markstrom was incredible against the high-powered American lineup, stopping 38 of 40 U.S. shots on goal. Meanwhile, Connor Hellebuyck faced just 28 of 30 Swedish shots. What matters, however, is that the American goaltender stopped one more shot that Markstrom.

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