MILAN — U.S. defenseman Quinn Hughes promises he’s having a good time.
As internet sleuths debate whether the U.S. defender is happy based on his facial expressions (or lack thereof), Hughes’ excitement was on full display after he scored the game-winning overtime goal to defeat Sweden 2-1 in the quarterfinals on Wednesday at the 2026 Winter Olympics.
When asked what he felt after finding the back of the net, Hughes simply said, ‘Relief.’
Hughes’ teammates embraced him in celebration after the goal, which punched Team USA’s ticket to the semifinals, where they will face Slovakia on Friday. Hughes then shared a hug with his brother, Jack Hughes.
‘That is unreal. That is a massive goal, in a massive moment. It was just one of our best players taking over and winning the game for us,’ Jack Hughes said.
Dylan Larkin added, ‘Unbelievable moment for our country and for USA hockey. For him to do it, it gives me chills. It was an unbelievable performance.’
Matthew Tkachuk said the Hughes’ first career Olympic goal sent him airborne. “It was definitely the highest I’ve jumped since my surgery. … I’ll have to hit the foam roll,’ he joked.
Hughes was ‘disappointed’ he wasn’t able to represent his country in last year’s 4 Nations Face-Off due to injury, but he’s making up for lost time at the Olympics, the first to include NHL players since 2014.
‘I felt like I was playing great hockey at the time and wasn’t able to be there,’ he said of the 4 Nations tournament in 2025. ‘It sucks, but you’re moving on. I’m here this time. I’m just really enjoying it.
Hughes has six points in four games with one goal and five assists. He’s one of two players on Team USA to record at least one point in every game of the tournament, joining Auston Matthews, who assisted on his overtime goal along with Matt Boldy. Hughes’ five assists ties Brian Leetch for the most by a U.S. defenseman in the Olympics with NHL players participating.
‘I have been enjoying wearing the crest and playing with the superstars that we have on our team, getting to know these guys in the (Olympic) Village,’ Hughes said. ‘I just wanted to extend it as long as I can.’
The Hughes brothers collaborated on an assist on Larkin’s goal to open scoring in the second period. The siblings’ connection has been productive — Quinn Hughes and Jack Hughes have contributed to half of Team USA’s goals, according to ESPN Insights.
‘That is family business, right there,’ Jack Hughes said.
‘There’s something unique about an opportunity to play with your brother,’ U.S. head coach Mike Sullivan added. ‘I just think that that’s another added inspiration for a guy like him to want to participate in these types of events. I know I spoke to him last year before the 4 Nations and during the 4 Nations and told him how much we missed them and what he meant to this team and there would be a time that he would join the group and this is it. And I couldn’t be happier that he’s healthy and he’s competing hard for us.’
The Americans led 1-0 in the closing minutes of the game and were 1:31 away from a regulation win when Sweden’s Mika Zibanejad scored an equalizer. The shot sent the quarterfinal game to overtime, a 10-minute sudden-death period played at 3-on-3. Space and opportunity is where Hughes thrives.
Quinn Hughes, Jack Eichel and Jake Guentzel took the ice for the USA as their teammates anxiously watched from the bench. Larkin said that was ‘as nervous as (he’s) ever been in a hockey game,’ but seeing Hughes with the puck gave him reassurance: ‘I calmed down a lot when I saw Quinn (Hughes) with it.’
Hughes said he ‘created some space for myself’ on the shot. ‘Got lucky. Kind of got the defenders in the position that I wanted and was able to get the shot off. … Took it to my forehand where I wanted it.’
But his teammates wouldn’t describe it as luck.
“He’s got to be one of the hardest guys in the world to cover 3-on-3. the way he’s able to move laterally and get a shot off quick,” Matthew Tkachuk said. “He does it 5-on-5. He does it on the power play. We had a lot of looks like right in that middle area. I don’t know if he was the third or fourth one. Went glove side, post-and-in and live to fight another day. It’s just most incredible feeling.”
Hughes’ performance was all the more impressive considering he played many minutes in Wednesday’s overtime win. Coach Sullivan said overtime was their ‘Game 7’ and they were emptying the tank to keep their gold-medal dreams alive.
‘There’s nothing to play for unless we win,’ Sullivan added. ‘So we were going to make decisions behind the bench based on that. Just trying to put guys on the ice in certain situations that we think ourselves give our team the best chance to win and (Hughes) in a lot of those situations. ‘
Hughes and Team USA will face Slovakia in the semifinals on Friday. The Hughes brothers may be back at the Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on Thursday for the U.S. women’s national team’s gold medal game against Canada. Hughes mother, Ellen Hughes, serves as the performance consultant for the women’s national team.
Reach USA TODAY National Women’s Sports Reporter Cydney Henderson at chenderson@gannett.com and follow her on X at @cydhenderson.
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