The American men annihilated Team Slovakia 6-2 in Thursday’s Olympic hockey semifinals to set up a highly anticipated gold medal matchup with rival Canada on Sunday in Milan, where President Donald Trump may be in attendance.
One day after the American women won Olympic gold with a 2-1 overtime win over Team Canada, the men now have a chance at their first gold medal since the famed Miracle On Ice at the 1980 Winter Games.
Instead of the USSR buzzsaw, which Team USA beat en route to Olympic gold in Lake Placid, this squad is up against a similarly talented roster. Both Canada and America are represented by highly paid NHL stars with vast international experience.
But unlike the Canadians, who needed to come back against Finland to advance to the gold medal game, Team USA is coming off a statement win.
The Americans easily pulled ahead 2-0 in the opening frame on Dylan Larkin’s goal, assisted by Zach Werenski and Tage Thompson, as well as a power-play goal from Thompson with 41 seconds remaining in the period.
Dylan Larkin of United States celebrates his goal with Tage Thompson and Jaccob Slavin
Slovakia’s #81 Erik Cernak (R) throws a punch at USA’s #19 Matthew Tkachuk on Friday
Thompson’s score was particularly impressive as the Buffalo Sabres winger beat Slovakian goalie Samuel Hlavaj on a blazing one-timer from Jack Eichel.
Team USA would score twice in rapid succession in the second period.
First it was Jack Hughes’ turn, netting an assist from Werenski, before Eichel followed 20 seconds later with a goal assisted by both Tkachuk brothers, Brady and Matthew.
Jack Hughes would add his second goal of the game late in the second to give his proud parents more to celebrate in the crowd. Hughes’ brother Quinn scored the game winner in overtime against Team Sweden to advance to the semifinals.
Canada didn’t have the fast start that Team USA had Thursday, but the Olympic favorites came up big when it mattered most.
The comeback began when Sam Reinhart deflected a Cale Maker slap shot in the second period. From there, Shea Theodore tied the game in the third period to set up Nathan MacKinnon’s game winner with 35.2 seconds remaining.
‘There wasn’t really any panic,’ Canadian center Nick Suzuki told reporters after the win. ‘We were going to get our chances eventually.’