The Olympic journey for several New Jersey Devils players came to a close today, as five were eliminated from the competition, leaving just two still in the hunt. Originally, seven Devils had made the Olympic rosters.
Teams from Sweden, Switzerland, and Germany saw their runs end on a dramatic Wednesday. Nico Hischier, Timo Meier, Jonas Siegenthaler, Jacob Markstrom, and Jesper Bratt are now heading home after their Olympic dreams were dashed.
The quarterfinals were nothing short of thrilling, with three of the four games stretching into overtime, showcasing the fierce competition on the ice.
Germany faced a tough 6-2 loss to Slovakia, allowing Nemec to advance to the semifinals.
Canada edged out Czechia 4-3 in a game that didn't feature any Devils players.
In another nail-biter, Finland overcame Switzerland 3-2 in overtime, despite the Swiss holding an early two-goal lead. Timo Meier wrapped up his tournament with an impressive team-high seven points.
The day's final showdown saw the United States take on Sweden. Jesper Bratt, back in action after being a healthy scratch, hit the ice in the third period. Jacob Markstrom, starting his second consecutive game for Sweden, was between the pipes.
The scoring opened in the second period with Dylan Larkin finding the net, assisted by the Hughes brothers. Sweden managed to equalize in the third, but the game slipped away in overtime. Markstrom, despite a valiant effort with 38 saves, conceded the game-winner to Quinn Hughes, sealing a 2-1 victory for Team USA and ending Sweden's medal hopes.
Looking ahead, Jack Hughes is set to face off against a fellow New Jersey teammate in the semifinal on February 20 at 3:10 p.m. EST. It's a matchup that promises to be a must-watch for Devils fans.