Two brothers saved Team USA’s bacon – just not the duo we expected
Much like their counterparts to the north, Team USA narrowly squeaked out a quarterfinal victory Wednesday versus Team Sweden. Hurling 40 shots at previously third-string goaltender Jacob Markstrom, the Americans were able to secure the 2-1 victory 3:27 into the overtime frame.
With so much made of the Americans leaning on the backs of the brothers Matthew and Brady Tkachuk through the preliminary round, it was the other set of siblings who catapulted team USA to a semifinal berth. Combining for one goal, two assists and nine shots on net, Jack and Quinn Hughes were the key catalysts in the Americans’ victory versus the Swedes.
Entering the tournament, it was no secret Quinn Hughes needed to be one of the key contributors for any success Team USA would have. A 2018 first-round pick, the Minnesota Wild defender is widely considered the second-best defenseman in the world; after he missed out on the 4 Nations Face-Off due to injury, his injection into this tournament was expected to be a major jolt in the arm for Bill Guerin’s club. When the chips were down in the first knockout game yesterday, Quinn Hughes’ impact was on full display.
Logging north of 27 minutes of ice time, he finished the contest with the game-winning goal, an assist and six shots on net. Though it is not exactly a shock given his overwhelming talent, it was still a spectacle to watch as the elder Hughes brother was a standout all game long. Especially when you consider that he was up against arguably the best blueline in the entire tournament – though Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman did not take a single shift due to injury – it was that much more impressive to see the clinic Quinn Hughes put on yesterday.
Through four Olympic games so far this year, Quinn Hughes has six points, tied for eighth in the entire tournament.
As I reported last week before the tournament got under way, Jack Hughes’ role (and ultimate impact) was much more up in the air. Given he was skating on the fourth line (though getting second-unit power-play usage) it was fair to question if he would be able to find a way to stand out. With one goal and three assists through four games these Olympics, it’s fair to say that Jack Hughes has found a way to be impactful.
Though getting just 13:14 of ice time Thursday – he had just a hair more than three minutes in the third period but did get a 36-second shift in the overtime frame – Jack Hughes put his stamp on the game, getting the primary assist on Dylan Larkin’s goal that opened the scoring. Tallying three shots on net as well, the younger Hughes brother made the most of his limited usage.
In such a tightly checked game where the big guns were canceled out on both sides up front, getting depth contributions from a player like Jack Hughes was especially important for the Americans to secure the victory.
Much was made of the impact Jack and Quinn Hughes would have entering this tournament, even if it was to varying degrees, with the latter’s expected to be more significant. But having both step up in their respective ways when the chips were down yesterday, it is important not to forget about the second pair of brothers when evaluating who may have the biggest impact for Team USA going forward.
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