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Zibanejad’s goal for Sweden not enough to beat fellow Rangers, Team USA
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- Zibanejad’s goal for Sweden not enough to beat fellow Rangers, Team USA
Amber Searls-Imagn Images
Three New York Rangers were at the center of the quarterfinal matchup between the United States and Sweden at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics on Wednesday. Mika Zibanejad's equalizer with 1:31 remaining in regulation got the Swedes to overtime, but Quinn Hughes' goal 3:27 into OT gave the Americans a 2-1 win and a berth in the semifinals.
With goaltender Jacob Markstrom on the bench in favor of an extra attacker, Lucas Raymond connected with Zibanejad at the left dot. Zibanejad, the Rangers' leading goal-scorer this season with 23, fired his signature one-timer, which trickled through Team USA goalie Conor Hellebuyck and into the net to tie the game 1-1.
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Two of Zibanejad's Rangers teammates, J.T. Miller and Vincent Trocheck, were on the ice for the goal; Trocheck played to protect a shot from Raymond, allowing a passing lane that enabled the Detroit Red Wings forward to set up Zibanejad.
Zibanejad's goal capped a strong showing for No. 93 in his first Olympic tournament. The 32-year-old center led Sweden with three goals and finished second with six points in five games, trailing only Raymond (nine points). He's tied for fourth in goals among all Olympic skaters; only Macklin Celebrini (Canada), Nick Olesen (Denmark), and Tim Stutzle (Germany) have more.
It's far from the first time the No. 6 overall pick in 2011 enjoyed success on the international stage. Zibanejad delivered the golden goal in Sweden's 1-0 win over Russia in the 2012 World Junior Championship. In 2018, he finished with 11 points (six goals, five assists) at the World Championship and scored a goal in Sweden's 3-2 win over Switzerland in the gold medal game.
Miller, Trocheck and linemate Brock Nelson were all on the ice for Zibanejad's goal and finished minus-1 Trocheck took the Americans' lone penalty of the game; he was called for tripping Swedish captain Gabriel Landeskog at 2:35 of the third.
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Miller helped the United States stay perfect on the penalty kill (10-for-10) in the tournament by dropping down to block a laser from defenseman Rasmus Dahlin.
The two Rangers forwards along with two members of the Blueshirts' coaching staff — coach Mike Sullivan and assistant David Quinn — will face Slovakia in the second semifinal on Friday after Canada plays Finland. The winners play Sunday for the gold medal; the losers face off Saturday for the bronze.
Team USA tops Sweden 2-1 in OT to win Olympic quarterfinal
The United States coasted through the preliminary round with a perfect 3-0-0-0 record, outscoring Latvia, Denmark, and Germany by a combined score of 16-5. But the scoreless first period quickly showed that the road to the gold medal would be a lot tougher.
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The Americans pushed the tempo in the second period, outshooting the Swedes 20-8, and opened the scoring at 11:03. Dylan Larkin won an offensive zone face-off, then got to the front of the net and deflected a long shot by Jack Hughes past Markstrom, his New Jersey Devils teammate.
But Larkin's score was all the United States' managed until overtime. Markström made 33 saves in regulation and finished with 38. Hellebuyck stopped 28 of 29 Swedish shots.
Amber Searls-Imagn Images
Team USA sat back on its heels as the third period wound down, and the Swedes picked up their play before tying the game on Zibanejad's goal.
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But Team USA dominated the 3-on-3 overtime. The Americans outshot the Swedes 6-0 in the extra period, Quinn Hughes' game-winner at 3:27. The fleet Minnesota Wild defenseman curled down to the slot and took a shot that caught the right corner of the net, prompting an American celebration.
Two of the other three quarterfinals Wednesday also went to overtime. Canada came from behind to beat Czechia 4-3 on Mitch Marner's goal 1:22 into OT after Nick Suzuki forced overtime with a clutch deflection at 16:33 of the third. Finland erased a 2-0 first-period deficit to knock out Switzerland 3-2 on Artturi Lehkonen's goal at 3:23 of overtime.
Slovakia, which won Group B, advanced to its meeting with Team USA by rolling over Germany 6-2.
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With a win over Slovakia in the semifinal, the United States can advance to the gold medal game for the first time since the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, when Team USA lost to Canada in overtime. Slovakia is 3-0-0-1 in these Games; its lone loss was 5-3 to Sweden on Saturday.
Schedule/times for men's hockey semifinals (All times Eastern)
Friday, February 20
Canada vs. Finland (10:40 a.m.)
United States vs. Slovakia (3:10 p.m.)
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