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In Olympic hockey action, Team USA has taken a significant step towards a gold medal, while whispers circulate about a potential appearance by Donald Trump in Milan.
With a spectacular overtime slap shot by Quinn Hughes of the Minnesota Wild, the American men’s Olympic hockey team edged out Sweden with a 2-1 victory. This win propels them into the semifinals against Slovakia, set for Friday in Milan.
The game’s outcome might lead to an unexpected international journey for Trump. Should Team USA triumph over Slovakia, Trump is reportedly considering attending the gold medal showdown on Sunday. Meanwhile, Canada and Finland will face off in the other semifinal matchup.
The tightly contested game saw Team USA holding onto a 1-0 lead for much of the match. However, Sweden fought back, pulling their goaltender and leveling the score with just over a minute left in regulation. Mika Zibanejad capitalized on a deft pass from Lucas Raymond, launching a one-timer past Connor Hellebuyck, who had been a near-impenetrable force for Team USA through the first three periods.
Earlier in the game, Dylan Larkin of the Detroit Red Wings had put Team USA ahead, scoring midway through the second period. His goal was set up by assists from the Hughes brothers, Jack and Quinn, demonstrating the team’s dynamic chemistry on the ice.
It was a brilliant set play on a face-off in the Swedish zone that made the goal possible. Quinn took the puck at the blue line made a short pass to brother Jack, who unleashed a slap shot that was deflected by Larkin and passed goaltender Jacob Markstrom.
Quinn Hughes celebrates his game-winner against Sweden on Wednesday in MilanÂ
Hughes, a defenseman, had a goal and an assist for Team USA on Wednesday in MilanÂ
Team USA celebrates after beating Sweden to advance to face Slovakia in the semisÂ
Coincidentally, Markstrom happens to play professionally with Jack and the other Hughes brother, Luke, on the New Jersey Devils.
Team USA got off to a fast start, peppering Markstrom with six shots in the first period before Sweden got even one on net.
But the Swedes weren’t completely lifeless, and quickly began to gather momentum in the offensive zone, where Larkin’s Red Wings teammate, Raymond, had six shots on net over the first 50 minutes of play.
Later, when Markstrom was pulled with Sweden trailing 1-0 late in the third, Raymond was back on the ice as the extra attacker, where he showed off his skating and passing skills to set up Zibanejad’s equalizer.
Mika Zibanejad celebrates with Lucas Raymond after scoring the equalizer in the third
Dylan Larkin goes up against the glass with Rasmus Dahlin, a former first-overall draft pick
Dylan Larkin and Charlie McAvoy celebrate their second-period goal against Sweden
Italian news outlets have already reported the President is expected to travel to Milan for Sunday’s gold medal game, should Team USA advance.
Trump’s visit will be fleeting: He’s expected to go straight from Air Force One to the hockey arena and then make an appearance at Sunday’s closing ceremony. He would then immediately depart Italy without an overnight stay or any meetings.
The reports came after Vice President JD Vance was embarrassingly booed during the opening ceremony earlier this month.
Vance, who attended ice hockey and figure skating events in Milan, was clearly jeered and whistled when he and his wife, Usha, were displayed on screens as US athletes joined the ceremony parade. The athletes had been cheered moments earlier.
Secretary of state Marco Rubio was among Vance’s delegation.
Simone Biles was joined at the game in Milan by her husband, Bears safety Jonathan Owens
As expected, NBC Olympic ambassador and LA Kings fan, Snoop Dogg, was also on hand
Protests in Milan’s streets flared up after it was confirmed 10 days before the games opened that staff from ICE, the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement department, were involved in American security planning for the Olympics.
On Wednesday in Milan, however, those controversies seemed thousands of miles away.
Instead of protestors, Wednesday’s quarterfinal was seen by Olympic gold medalist and gymnastics icon, Simone Biles, and her husband, Chicago Bears safety Jonathan Owens. And he wasn’t the only NFL star in the arena. Also in attendance were San Francisco 49ers teammates Christian McCaffrey and George Kittle, the latter of whom has befriended Sweden’s Filip Forsberg, a Nashville Predators forward.
And as expected, NBC Olympic ambassador and LA Kings fan, Snoop Dogg, was also on hand.
Meanwhile, the US women have surrendered only a single goal at the ongoing Olympics and will face rival Canada again in Thursday’s gold medal game. Team USA beat the Canadians, 5-0, last week.Â