Top 10 men’s Olympic hockey moments of all-time

7. T.J. Sochi: Oshie dazzles for Americans in shootout, Sochi 2014

Not bad for a guy who only barely made the U.S. roster. But Oshie qualified as a secret weapon for coach Dan Bylsma, as Oshie’s shootout prowess was well established in the NHL by that point. He got his chance to step up when a round-robin matchup against the host Russians went to a shootout. He scored on Sergei Bobrovsky as one of Bylsma’s three selected shooters and, per the IIHF rules, if the teams were tied after three rounds, coaches were allowed reuse players as many times as they wanted to. Bylsma sent Oshie out five times in a row, and he scored three times, giving him four goals in six attempts, including the game-clincher. Oshie won a Stanley Cup with the Washington Capitals in 2017-18 and enjoyed a productive career with 695 points in 1,010 games, but he’ll forever be known for what he did in Sochi.

6. Henrik Lundqvist’s save: Sweden’s 2006 gold medal, Turin

The Canadians were the defending champions, and the Russians were loaded with promising young talent, but if you look at the names on the 2006 Swedish roster: in hindsight, it’s understandable why it succeeded. The lineup was loaded with future Hall of Famers, including Nicklas Lidstrom on defense, Peter Forsberg, Mats Sundin, Daniel Alfredsson and Daniel and Henrik Sedin up front and, of course, Henrik Lundqvist in net. He was in the midst of a banner rookie season with the New York Rangers and carried his stellar play into the Turin Games. His big clutch moment: a breathtaking stop on Olli Jokinen to preserve a 3-2 lead over Finland with 15 seconds remaining in the gold-medal game. Corralling a rebound in the blue ice, Jokinen was so sure he’d scored that he began to raise his arms, but Lundqvist turned the shot away with the inside of his blocker hand, cementing Sweden’s first gold of the NHL participation era.

5. “Jooooe…Sakic!”: Canada ends its gold-medal drought, Salt Lake City 2002

If you’re born later than, say, 1995, you probably don’t remember the state of despair over Canada’s hockey programs in 2002. Canada’s men hadn’t won gold since 1952. Its World Juniors hadn’t topped the podium since 1997. Its women lost to USA in their first Olympic clash in 1998. So when Sakic, sprung for a breakaway, used his patented wrister to beat Mike Richter and put Canada up 5-2 in the third period of the gold-medal game, a massive weight lifted from a nation’s shoulders. Canada had finally reclaimed its beloved game.

4. Dominik Hasek rules the world: Czech Republic wins gold, Nagano 1998

Few players in hockey history have peaked the way Hasek did in the late 1990s with the Buffalo Sabres. He won six Vezina Trophies, plus back-to-back Hart Trophies as league MVP, during a seven-year stretch from 1993-94 to 2000-01. The pinnacle was 1998. It’s hard to pinpoint a single best moment at the Nagano Games since Hasek was so great wire to wire, but the lasting image in most fans’ minds is likely Hasek slithering around the crease to stone all five Canadian attackers in the semifinal shootout, including four Hall of Famers: Theo Fleury, Ray Bourque, Joe Niewendyk, Eric Lindros, Brendan Shanahan in succession. Hasek’s numbers for the tournament, which ended with the Czech Republic defeating Russia in the gold-medal game: 0.97 goals-against average, .961 save percentage, two shutouts. He’s the greatest goalie of all-time, and I’ll throw down with anyone who wants to challenge me on that assertion.

3. Peter Forsberg’s Postage Stamp: Sweden wins gold, Lillehammer 1994

The goal was magical and worthy of a postage stamp in Sweden no matter how it was scored; it was a gold clincher in the shootout and secured the nation’s first Olympic gold in men’s hockey. But the way in which ‘Foppa’ scored elevated it to legendary status. Most of us know what the move is today if we simply say ‘The Forsberg.’ He faked a deke to his left forehand, switched his stick to his right hand and slid the puck past Corey Hirsch with a one-handed backhander. The move has been duplicated countless times, particularly since the NHL introduced shootouts beginning in 2005-06.

2. Sidney Crosby’s golden goal: Canada wins gold, Vancouver 2010

Across all sports, Canada had a truly spectacular home showing at the 2010 Games, capped off by an epic men’s hockey final in which the Canadians and Americans required sudden-death overtime after Zach Parise tied the game for USA with seconds remaining in regulation. At the 7:40 mark of overtime, Crosby received a pass from Jarome Iginla at the bottom of the left faceoff circle and surprised Ryan Miller with a quick, low wrist shot, clinching gold on home ice for Canada. Paul Henderson at the 1972 Summit Series and Mario Lemieux at the 1987 Canada Cup also sit on the podium of Canada’s most important goals, with Henderson ranked as the most important by most, but the Crosby 2010 goal is a 1B or better for an entire generation.

1. The Miracle on Ice: Team USA stuns the Soviets, Lake Placid 1980

The Soviets were an unstoppable juggernaut by 1980, playing with unrivalled skill and chemistry. But Herb Brooks was galaxy-braining on another level when he built a fast, hardworking team designed to sneak up on everyone with its relentlessness. The Soviets destroyed the Americans 10-3 in an exhibition game days before the tournament began, but the Americans got their nerves out and quietly played them 3-3 after falling behind 7-0. It gave them a read on their opponent that would come in handy when they faced each other during the medal round. Two soft goals in the first period led to coach Viktor Tikhonov benching legendary goaltender Vladislav Tretiak despite the score being tied 2-2. With the game tied 3-3 in the third, Mike Eruzione slid into high slot and beat Soviet backup goale Vladimir Myshkin to give the Americans the lead with 10 minutes to go. They hung on for perhaps the most improbable win in hockey history, punctuated by play-by-play man Al Michaels’ perfect call.

The Americans actually had another game to play before winning gold, with Finland standing in their way, and Finland led 2-1 after two periods, but the U.S. wouldn’t be denied, scoring three third-period goals to win 4-2 and clinch gold.

If you want a much more detailed account of the Miracle on Ice: check out this oral history I did with members and management of Team USA, plus Michaels and even referee Nico Toeman.