Team USA is playing for gold on Sunday. New Jersey Devils superstar Jack Hughes was a major factor in reaching the championship round.
USA faced Simon Nemec and Team Slovakia on Friday after Canada already eliminated Finland to advance to the championship round.
A dominant 6-2 victory over USA’s surprise semifinal opponent sends Slovakia to the bronze medal game against Finland.
After Dylan Larkin and Tage Thompson have USA a 2-0 advantage, Hughes tripled the U.S. lead just as their power play expired, sniping a rebound by Slovakia goaltender, Samuel Hlavaj from the left circle.
However, it was the fourth USA goal when Hughes channeled his inner Patrick Kane widen the gap to 4-0.
Hughes received the puck at the USA blue line and quickly read time and ice in front of him. He juked ex-Devils forward Tomas Tatar nearly out of his skates, gained the Slovakia slot, and sniped a goal over the left shoulder of Hlavaj, his second of the night.
Not only was the goal reminiscent of prime Patrick Kane, but the celebration, down on a knee with a fist pump, that made entire sequence reminiscent of the Chicago Blackhawks and USA hockey legend in Olympic Games during 2010.
The goal by Hughes brought his goal total to three in five games—and six points total—including the preliminary rounds. He finished Friday’s tilt with two goals.
Hughes took some heat for missing the final three games before the Olympic break with crucial points on the table. He also didn’t necesarily look like the player the Devils know he can be. However, his Olympic performance has restored faith in doubters. His teammates back home in New Jersey
“[Jack] played through things that a lot of guys wouldn’t,” Connor Brown explained. “And that’s a testament to his character. But if you look at his season, when he’s been healthy, he’s been one of the best players in the league, and that shows on the Olympic stage.”
Team USA faces Canada for gold on Sunday morning, 8 A.M. Eastern, to conclude the games in Milan.
