In a thrilling Olympic quarterfinal showdown, Team USA edged out Team Sweden 2-1 in overtime. The Americans held a slim 1-0 lead for most of the third period until Mika Zibanejad netted a late equalizer for Sweden. However, it was Quinn Hughes who sealed the deal in overtime, capitalizing on Sweden's misfortune as they contended with the absence of Victor Hedman due to injury.
Sweden's head coach, Sam Hallam, revealed that the news of Hedman's unavailability came just minutes before the puck dropped. Despite having the option to replace him with Rasmus Andersson, the team decided to keep Hedman on the bench, valuing his presence and leadership even if he couldn't take the ice. This decision was made easier by the fact that they had six healthy defensemen ready to go.
The confusion surrounding Hedman's status lingered until the first intermission, leaving fans puzzled about his absence. Although he didn't play, Hedman remained a crucial figure on the bench, supporting his teammates as a captain.
Sweden's journey to the quarterfinals had already been a rollercoaster. After a tough loss to Finland in the round robin, they found themselves seeded seventh.
They managed to overcome Latvia in the qualifying round, but this set up a challenging matchup against Team USA. The defeat was a tough pill to swallow for Zibanejad and his teammates, who had high hopes for a Gold Medal.
Looking ahead, Team USA is set to face Slovakia in the semifinals on Friday. The stakes are high, with the winner advancing to the Gold Medal game against either Canada or Finland. As the tournament heats up, fans can expect more intense and exhilarating hockey action.