"I'm not sure I thought I'd ever see the day when an American hockey player who has only worked in Vancouver and St. Paul would be getting covered by E! News, or serve as the lure in catfishing attempts. Quinn Hughes, mainstream celebrity? What a world. Being the subject of memes that allege he's haunted by the ghost of a Victorian child, and acknowledging said meme, helps. Being the best defenseman in the world doesn't hurt."
"No ghosts, but the specter of going home early was certainly looming, after a late 6-on-5 goal from Mika Zibanejad tied the game and sent things to sudden death. Sweden, as the only medal contender to slip up in group play, had unexpectedly sunk to a seed that provided a more difficult quarterfinal opponent than expected for both sides, and they played like podium contenders-limiting U.S. chances and requiring Connor Hellebuyck to keep up with Jacob Markstrom."
""That's as nervous as I've been ever in a hockey game," said Dylan Larkin, who redirected a Jack Hughes puck for the U.S.'s first goal. While it may not exactly decide the best team, at least Team USA had a plan for 3-on-3. "Give it to Quinn," said Matt Boldy, who gave it to Quinn for the assist on the winner. "That is usually the game plan when he is out there.""
Quinn Hughes combines rising mainstream celebrity with elite defensive skill and scored the overtime winner that advanced Team USA past Sweden in the Olympic quarterfinals. Sweden forced sudden death after Mika Zibanejad's late 6-on-5 goal and played like podium contenders despite a poor group-stage seed, limiting high-danger chances and requiring strong goaltending from Connor Hellebuyck against Jacob Markstrom. Three-on-three overtime emphasized skill and speed, and Team USA intentionally funneled play to Hughes in those situations, as shown by Matt Boldy's assist and Dylan Larkin's earlier redirected goal. Hughes logged 27:31 against Sweden.
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