U.S. head coach Mike Sullivan told the men's hockey team prior to the quarterfinal matchup with Sweden to consider it a "Game 7."
However, the showdown ended up being even better than playoff hockey
Dylan Larkin scored the only goal in regulation in the second period to give the U.S. a 1-0 lead over Sweden for the game.
It looked as if the United States would hold on to move on to the final four, but Sweden's Mika Zibanejad wasn't much for that plan.
Zibanejad scored with just over a minute and a half to go to send the game to overtime, tied up 1-1.
"That is as nervous as I have ever been in a hockey game," Larkin said. The way 3-on-3 goes (in overtime), it is about being opportunistic. Someone could fall, the puck could bounce, anything can happen, especially with the ice out there, he added.
The three-on-three overtime period lasted under four minutes.
"I calmed down a lot when I saw Quinn (HUGHES) with it and was glad we got that guy," Larkin said.
It was Quinn Hughes who found the back of the net to keep Team USA's medal hopes alive with a win 2-1 over Sweden. He admitted the game could have gone either way in the end.
“Got lucky. Kind of got the defenders in the position that I wanted and was able to get the shot off," Hughes said after the win. "That’s (Sweden) one of the best countries in the world. They’ve got superstars everywhere," he added.
The United States advances to the semifinal on Feb. 20 against Slovakia.
Slovakia 6, Germany 2
Slovakia took down Germany 6-2 in the men's hockey Olympic quarterfinal round on Wednesday.
Pavol Regenda, Milos Kelemen, Oliver Okuliar, Dalibor Dvorsky and Tomas Tatar scored for Slovakia.
"We are happy, we are a great team, from first to last. Everybody is working 200% every day and you can see out there," Regenda said after the game. "We are happy that we are in the top four of the world now,” he added.
Germany's Lukas Reichel and Frederik Tiffels scored the pair of goals in the team's exit from the tournament.
Slovakia advances to the semifinal on Feb. 20.
Canada 4, Czechia 3
Canada outlasted Czechia in overtime and secured a 4-3 victory to advance to the final four.
Mitch Marner netted the goal overtime goal to keep Canada's medal hopes afloat.
"(It was) adrenaline: trust in your skill that you work on so hard throughout the summer. You just trust yourself to make a play there, and I was lucky enough to score,” Marner said after the win.
Canada advances to the semifinal on Feb. 20 to play Finland.
Finland 3, Switzerland 2
Finland survived overtime against Sweden and is moving on after a 3-2 win.
Artturi Lehkonen scored the game winner for Finland's comeback overtime win.
"It’s unreal. It’s always good to score a goal, but when it’s in overtime and at an Olympics, it feels even better," Lehkonen said after the game.
Finland advances to the semifinal on Feb. 20 to play Canada.