NyQuil
Big F$&*in Q
They lost in 1996 and 1998 mostly because Ritcher and Hasek went into god mode. 2006 was just a poorly managed and poorly prepared team that you didn’t even sorry for them. It also showed not always the better team on paper can win. That team deserved their embarrassment.
I don't think 1998 was because of Hasek at all.
It was an evenly matched game and he was up against Roy who also made some huge saves.
It was their time.
The Czechs would go on to win the World Championships in 1999, 2000 and 2001 as well as the WJCs in 2000 and 2001.
That's a pretty dominant period and Hasek didn't play that large a part in it.