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Team USA wasn’t about to blow its shot at the gold medal game. The Americans rolled to a 6-2 win over Slovakia in the semifinals to set up gold medal matchup against rival Canada.

The Americans dictated play from the jump, and Dylan Larkin set the tone with an early goal to give his team the lead. Larkin took a pass from defenseman Zach Werenski and wired a shot past Slovakian goalie Samuel Hlavaj. That was an indicator of what was to come.

Speaking of Werenski, that assist on Larkin’s goal was the first of three he registered against the Slovakians, bringing his Olympic point total to five.

Jack Hughes has been brilliant for Team USA throughout the tournament, and he was at his very best on Friday. Hughes notched a pair of goals — both in a dominant second period effort — and the first one was of the highlight reel variety. Hughes moved in from the point, deked Tomas Tatar to the ice and lifted a shot over the shoulder of Hlavaj.

The U.S. led 5-0 at the second intermission and parked the bus in the final 20 minutes. Connor Hellebuyck did allow a couple of late goals to Juraj Slafkovsky and Pavol Regenda, the first time he’s allowed more than one in a start in Milan, but those only served to make the score a bit more respectable.

Team USA will now get its shot to dethrone Canada in a rivalry game with a gold medal on the line. That game will begin at 8:10 a.m. ET on Sunday morning.

U.S. men’s hockey schedule

All times Eastern

Preliminary round

  • Thursday, Feb. 12: USA 5, Latvia 1
  • Saturday, Feb. 14: USA 6, Denmark 3
  • Sunday, Feb. 15: USA 5, Germany 1

Quarterfinal

  • Wednesday, Feb. 18: USA 2, Sweden 1 (OT)

Semifinal

  • Friday, Feb. 20: USA 6, Slovakia 2

Gold medal game

  • USA vs. Canada | Sunday, Feb. 22 | 8:10 a.m. | NBC