During sudden-death overtime in the men’s hockey quarterfinal between the United States and Sweden, with Team USA’s medal hopes at stake, Quinn Hughes of the United States had the puck on his stick and, thanks to fending off the Swedish defense, had a little breathing room.

The Minnesota Wild defenseman let loose a shot. It was a shot of relief for the American team.

Hughes’ straight-on blast sailed past the outstretched glove of Sweden goalkeeper Jacob Markstrom, slipped inside the post, and secured a dramatic 2-1 victory for the United States. The U.S. will now face Slovakia in Friday’s semifinal round. Canada will face Finland in the other Olympic final four game, with the winners of each meeting on Sunday in the gold medal game, which will wrap things up.

(Wow, that was quick.)

Although it won in Milan on Wednesday night, Team USA only narrowly avoided crushing disappointment. The team had breezed through each of its preliminary round games. The last time the Olympics had a best-on-best global competition with NHL players, in 2014 in Sochi, the U.S. reached the semis; at last year’s, a highly popular international competition that rekindled interest in international hockey, the U.S. reached the final round before losing to Canada, on home ice, in Boston. Granted, Team USA isn’t in North America anymore. But the “U.S.A., U.S.A.” chants and fans in jerseys and other red, white, and blue paraphernalia gave the contest a home-game atmosphere.

The Americans believe they’re the world’s best team, but the United States hasn’t won an Olympic hockey gold since 1980. Losing in the quarters, the way the Americans almost did, would have been painful for a long, long time.

Especially since they were 91 seconds away from sealing the game. American keeper Connor Hellebuyck, a rock in goal who finished the game with 28 saves, was putting on a brilliant 1-0 shutout: Dylan Larkin’s goal in the middle of the second period had given the U.S. the lead. But Sweden had just pulled its keeper late, and a Mika Zibanejad one-time blast almost ruined Hellebuyck’s effort, tying the game late and forcing overtime.

The Americans didn’t have time to mope: Olympic rules call for a 3-on-3 – instead of the typical 5 on 5 – sudden death ten-minute overtime. It’s a wide-open, anything-goes format. And a potentially heart-breaking one for the United States, since it controlled most of the game. The plan, said Team USA’s Matt Boldy, when he shared the ice with Matthews and Hughes was simple. Get the puck to Quinn. “He’s so talented, not only to create shots, but to create lanes and chances,” says Boldy. “The most important thing is, he wants the puck. He wants to have it and make a difference.”

“That’s just Quinn making a bold move,” says his younger brother, Jack Hughes, a center for the New Jersey Devils and Quinn’s USA teammate. (Another Hughes brother, Luke, also plays for the Devils.) “That’s a bold play right there.”

Matthew Tkachuk, the Florida Panthers star who just returned to the NHL following offseason surgery to repair a torn adductor muscle and sports hernia, thought the shot might have hit the post and bounced out. Then he heard the roar. “It was definitely the highest I’ve jumped since my surgery,” says Tkachuk. “So might have to do a little foam rolling.”

“That was one of the best feelings I’ve ever had,” says American winger Brady Tkachuk, Matthew’s younger brother. There’s a lot of camaraderie among this American squad.

Relief washed over the man of the moment. “Really enjoying wearing the crest and playing with the superstars that we have on our team,” says Quinn Hughes. “And getting to know these guys and the village. All of it.” Yes, these pros are passing up Milan’s luxury hotels to experience dorm life in the Olympic village. Good enough reason to cheer them on.

“So you just want to extend it as long as you can,” says Hughes.

The Americans have two more days in Milan. At least. Thanks to the shot of relief.