The stakes are high when it comes to Olympic ice hockey, and the best games often go into overtime. From Sidney Crosby’s golden goal in Vancouver in 2010 to the American rout of the Soviets at the 1980 Olympics, fans have been treated to some incredible moments in the extra period. But the rules for overtime at the Olympics are a little different than in the NHL.
Unlike in the NHL, where the trapezoid is the only area behind the net where a goalie can play the puck, Olympic goalies can field the puck anywhere on the ice. This gives the game a more open feel and has helped generate some spectacular plays in Olympic history, including a 1994 win for Sweden that was dubbed the Miracle on Ice and Dominik Hasek’s stunning goaltending in 1998 that gave the Czech Republic (now Czechia) its first gold medal.
Since the 1920s, teams from Canada have dominated men’s Olympic hockey. They were followed by the Soviet Union, which won seven straight golds from 1956 to 1976 before the dissolution of the USSR and the formation of a Unified Team made up of former Soviet players. Since then, teams from Canada have won nine golds, followed by teams from Sweden, the Czech Republic, and Russia. But the 2018 PyeongChang tournament saw a shocking upset when the United States knocked off Canada in a gold medal shootout. In the process, it ended Canada’s Olympic streak at six straight golds.