Steve Futterman

then won the game with 35.2 seconds left on a goal by Nathan McKinnon.

The last time the U.S.

was in the gold medal match for men's hockey at the Olympics was in 2010 against Canada in Vancouver.

The Canadians won that game in overtime.

For NPR News, I'm Steve Futterman in Milan.

Here at the Winter Olympics, athletes from Russia and Belarus have been very few in number and have had to compete as neutral athletes, all because of sanctions imposed following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

But when the Paralympics begin, it will be different.

They will be able to compete under their national flag and will be identified as being from Russia or Belarus.

This has sparked a strong response from Ukraine Paralympic officials.

They say Ukraine athletes will boycott the Paralympic opening ceremony.

Ukraine officials call this latest move a cynical decision.

They say they are outraged.

For NPR News, I'm Steve Futterman in Milan.

After surviving an overtime scare and beating Sweden in a quarterfinal match, the U.S.

men will face Slovakia in a semifinal contest.

If the Americans win, the men will advance to their first Olympic gold medal game since the memorable 2010 final where the U.S.

lost to Canada in overtime.

In the other semifinals are those Canadians.

Canada will face off against Finland.

It all sets the stage for another possible U.S.-Canada final on Sunday.