USA Crushes Slovakia 6-2, Sets Stage for Epic Gold Medal Clash with Canada
Team USA stormed past Slovakia in a commanding 6-2 semifinal victory, securing their spot in the Olympic gold-medal game against longtime rival Canada. From the opening puck drop, the Americans showed why they brought arguably their strongest roster to Milan. Dylan Larkin opened the scoring just four minutes in, exploiting a Slovak line change and firing a blistering shot past goaltender Samuel Hlavaj. That set the tone for a game the U.S. never looked back from.
Tage Thompson doubled the lead late in the first period with a perfectly timed power-play goal, giving the Americans momentum heading into the second period. It was there that the team truly blew the game open. Jack Hughes struck twice, with his first goal quickly followed by a Jack Eichel score just 19 seconds later. By the midway point of the second, the U.S. had a comfortable 4-0 lead, forcing Slovakia to make a goalie change as they tried to halt the American onslaught.
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Despite Slovakia showing flashes of resilience in the third period, scoring twice against U.S. goaltender Connor Hellebuyck, it wasn’t enough to slow the Americans. Brady Tkachuk added an emphatic goal late in the game, extending the lead to 6-1 before Slovakia managed a consolation score. Hellebuyck, the three-time Vezina Trophy winner, played with remarkable composure, only allowing two late goals after dominating the first two periods.
This victory is significant not just for the scoreline, but for the context it carries. The U.S. has not won Olympic gold in men’s hockey since the historic 1980 “Miracle on Ice.” They have come close before, losing to Canada in the 2002 and 2010 finals. Now, with their best roster in years, they’re finally positioned to challenge Canada on the ultimate stage. The North American rivalry adds an extra layer of intensity. Canada has consistently had the upper hand, but the Americans have the confidence and firepower to flip the script.
Players like Quinn Hughes and Dylan Larkin emphasized that it will take one extraordinary performance to claim gold. Both sides know this is a battle that could go down to the wire, with elite talent on every line. While Slovakia provided a test, it was a preview of the kind of skill and speed the U.S. will face against Canada’s powerhouse offense led by stars like Connor McDavid and Nathan MacKinnon.
With the final looming, all eyes now turn to Sunday. The stakes could not be higher as Team USA seeks redemption and the chance to capture Olympic gold after decades of near misses. Every pass, shot and save will matter in what promises to be a thriller.
Stay with us as we continue to follow every play, every update and every development leading into the most anticipated men’s hockey showdown of these Winter Games.
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