Takeaways from Team USA’s Olympic hockey team’s win against Slovakia

Team USA needed overtime to defeat Sweden in the quarterfinals of the 2026 Olympic Men’s Hockey Tournament.

Friday’s semi-final match was not stressful for viewers.

The Americans scored early and often, finishing with a 6-2 win over Slovakia to earn a spot in the gold medal game, where the team will face Canada on Sunday (8:10 a.m. ET).

So how did the United States manage to put together such a dominant performance? Who are the main players in the competition? And what does all this mean as we look forward to the final showdown against USA Hockey’s primary rival?

First conclusion: The American attack has returned

This was by far the best team USA has featured in the tournament, especially on the offensive end. The Americans didn’t have the same spark in their quarterfinal match against Sweden, managing just one goal in regulation while several of their best forwards were hampered. It did take extra time from defender Quinn Hughes to put them through the semi-finals, after all.

The United States made up for lost time against Slovakia. Dylan Larkin (the other scorer in the quarterfinal win), Taj Thompson, Jack Hughes (twice), Jack Eichel and Brady Tkachuk (on a breakaway, no less) all contributed goals in the defeat, and we felt like there was more cohesion up front than we’ve seen so far from this group.

Sloppy move by Brady Tkachuk to extend the lead. pic.twitter.com/CIrgDfTFR6

– NBC Olympics and Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) February 20, 2026

It is not unusual for a team to take time to develop chemistry when they have been put together for a short period. We are seeing this development in real time from the USA, and the team has chosen the perfect moment to escalate.

Takeaway 2: Discipline — with a capital D — is important

The Americans had little difficulty scoring goals on Friday. But they could be smarter when it comes to wasting goal scoring opportunities.

The USA committed four penalties in just over 25 minutes of the game, and they were undefendable in that. (Think too many stray sticks.) Charlie McAvoy took two on his own, and skaters like him (or Auston Matthews, another notable player arriving in the gate) are supposed to create momentum for their team, not take it away.

Yes, the Americans have been taking penalty kicks – time and time again – and they have generally done a good job of limiting Slovakia’s shooting opportunities. The Slovaks also didn’t help themselves with a baffling lack of net presence in front of Connor Hellebuyck.

However, taking too many power play opportunities is a high-risk area, and if the USA hopes to achieve its ultimate goal in Sunday’s gold medal game, discipline will be paramount. The Canadiens have one of the most lethal power plays in the tournament with a knack for finding leads.

Slovakia only managed 23 shots on the American goalkeeper, and had the luxury of an easy lead for much of the night. However, aside from the miscue behind the net before Juraj Slavkovski’s goal, Hellebuyck was solid (again) for the USA and should give the team every confidence in the goaltender’s anticipated matchup with Jordan Binnington for the gold medal.

However, Hellebuyck may have more to prove than Binnington. He’s been criticized for poor performances in the NHL playoffs, and despite racking up regular season accolades (including the Hart Trophy last season as league MVP), Hellebuyck has yet to achieve that signature victory at the highest level of his sport that truly defines top-tier goaltenders.

This is his chance to silence those doubters and show that he can close the door on the best competition in the game, when the stakes are at an all-time high.

Man of the Match: Jack Hughes, F

This was the Jack Hughes performance we’ve been waiting for in Milan. Not that Hughes was by any means invisible heading into the semi-final. He just didn’t look like the dominant offensive threat he has shown in the past.

His first goal, which weaved its way through the Slovakia defence, was worthy of the spotlight and an injection of confidence for the United States amid a series of penalty woes. Hughes’ second goal was opportunistic – right player, right place, right time.

“ANOTHA ONE,” said Jack Hughes. pic.twitter.com/GG2bK1YPlj

– NBC Olympics and Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) February 20, 2026

Hughes was playing in a fourth-line role for an American team, which is not where he was accustomed to being in the NHL. However, Hughes seized the opportunity he was given, and he is finally making the most of it. Perhaps inspired by the Coen brother’s heroics in the quarterfinals, Hughes sent some extra competitive fire into his skates. Whatever the inspiration for Hughes, he is what the United States needed from one of its most talented pitchers.

Great question for the gold medal game

How will the US have Canada’s best skaters?

There are questions looming for both teams heading into Sunday’s final. Will Sidney Crosby be available for Canada after missing Friday’s semifinal due to injury? Will the United States retain Thompson after his departure against Slovakia for what was considered “precautionary reasons,” perhaps because of a shot that hit his foot in the second match?

No matter how different the formations are, the United States will be preoccupied with the team that stands between it and gold. This is familiar territory, of course, given that Canada and the United States competed in a Four Nations final one year ago. The United States was on the losing side of these efforts. Most of their roster faced this disappointment. Now we’ll find out if they learned anything from it.

Connor McDavid, Nathan MacKinnon and newcomer MacLean Celebrini have led Canada’s offense to an expected high level, if not to new heights. Can the United States harness all its firepower at once to flip the Four Nations script, matching what the American women managed to do by denying Canada a gold medal in hockey?

Overall team grade: A-

The penalties may not have cost Team USA, but if we’re looking for ways to improve, staying outside the box will be important.

Despite the goal scored by Slavkovski at Hellebuyck (his misplay and the general chaos in the defensive zone were eye-catching), it was a fairly clean game overall by the Americans. Their scoring depth showed, star players created chances and Hellebuyck was excellent when called upon.

The United States has built momentum throughout the tournament, and that continues into Sunday’s game.