Feb. 20 (UPI) — New Jersey Devils star Jack Hughes scored twice in a thrashing of Slovakia on Friday, helping Team USA clinch a spot in the 2026 Winter Olympics hockey gold medal game.
The Americans outshot the Slovaks 39-24 in the 6-2 triumph at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena. They will meet the Canadians, who rallied to beat defending champion Finland in Friday’s first semifinal, on Sunday in the gold medal game.
A win would give the United States gold medals in men’s and women’s hockey in the same Olympics for the first time in history.
Detroit Red Wings forward Dylan Larkin, who scored the opener in Wednesday’s quarterfinal win over Sweden, put the Americans ahead again in the semifinal.
Tage Thompson unleashes a slapshot and rips it home. #WinterOlympics pic.twitter.com/Edo9qM9cGK— NBC Sports (@NBCSports) February 20, 2026
Buffalo Sabres forward Tage Thompson found Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski at the start of that sequence. Werenski hit the next pass to Larkin, just ahead of the Slovakia blue line.
Larkin finished the play by rifling a wrist shot past Slovakian net minder Samuel Hlavaj’s stick side just 4:19 into the semifinal.
Thompson doubled the lead with another score with 41 seconds remaining in the opening period. Vegas Golden Knights forward Jack Eichel found Thompson inside the left circle for that play. Thompson fired a lightning-quick one-timer past Hlavaj.
Hughes and Eichel beat Hlavaj for two more scores in the span of 19 seconds in the second quarter, resulting the the Slovakian goalie’s removal from the game. Hughes added a second score 1:36 before the third period for a 5-0 advantage.
Montreal Canadiens forward Juraj Slafkovsky scored Slovakia’s first goal 4:55 into the third period. Ottawa Senators forward Brady Tkachuk beat Slovakian goalie Stanislav Skorvanek to push the Team USA back to five with 9:08 remaining in regulation.
Sharks forward Pavol Regenda found the net for Slovakia’s final score less than three minutes later.
Jack Hughes showing flashes of Patrick Kane! pic.twitter.com/iaHFG0pvcW— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) February 20, 2026
Winnipeg Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck logged 13 saves in the victory. Hlavaj and Skorvanek registered 19 and two saves, respectively, for Slovakia.
Werenski totaled three assists for Team USA. Tkachuk, Thompson and Eichel registered a goal and assist apiece.
The Americans, who last won a gold medal in 1980, will face the Canadians in the gold medal game at 8:10 a.m. EST Sunday in Milan. The rivalry matchup will air on NBC.
The Slovakians will meet Finland at 2:40 p.m. Saturday in the bronze medal game. That matchup will air on USA Network.
COMMENTS
Please let us know if you're having issues with commenting.