I guess as a Canadian you might think I look at Hasek's performance in 1998 with envy, but I never have. If anything I've always had disdain for the mess of 1998 with our own Canadian team. So with that being said, I don't think Hasek's 1998 performance was as good as we remember. I never knew Bob McKenzie's article written about the Olympics, but after reading it upthread here I agree. It is sort of how I've always thought too. The Czech team was a strong cohesive defensive unit. And Jagr and Hasek were the name brands on the team. Canada had fits getting quality chances on Hasek in that semi final game. Only in overtime did we actually look like we should have by dominating the play and tilting the ice in our favour. The first three periods were not like that. A deflected goal by Trevor Linden is what got us the overtime and shootout.
As for the shootout I don't think Hasek faced a ton of great chances there. Fleury did a good job getting the puck high but it just hit Hasek's shoulder and popped up and over the net. Pretty close. Bourque did not take a good shot on him. Nieuwendyk was sloppy and didn't even get a shot on net but instead lost the puck to overpuckhandling. Lindros himself did the right thing by bursting in like a bull in a china shop and then deking Hasek out but ringing it off the post. Hasek is lying on his back - without his stick - and has no clue where the puck is. To say he got lucky with Lindros is an understatement. Lastly, Shanahan came in there as slow as molasses and did nothing positive on that rush.
So he did alright. He did what he had to do, but it was not elite. I would say the US game he played great, because the Americans outplayed the Czechs in the quarter finals. But I don't think he was the reason they won. I don't know if he stole a game outside of the U.S. game. I liken it to Carey Price in 2014. Price was good, barely allowed any goals, but that team was like a trained German shepherd in front of him. Picking up rebounds, always backchecking, never being out of position, etc. A well oiled machine. Hasek was like that in 1998, I think.
Tretiak in 1981 comes to mind as one of the better performances. Vachon in 1976 had his moments and 7 goals in 7 games is pretty darn good, but he did have a heck of a team in front of him so he might fall into the Price performance category. But in each of these cases I think their team still wins either way. Tretiak did allow only one goal vs. a stacked Canada in 1981 but his team scored 8 goals that game. He wasn't the reason they won.
So I am going to pick Richter in 1996. He was brilliant. Deserved the MVP that he got and the Harley Davidson that went with it. Because there is no way USA wins that without him. Richter always had this x-factor about him that frightened you where he could get hot and just make a breathtaking save to screw you over. 1994 comes to mind, and 1996 World Cup defines this. Canada had some issues in this tournament, but that Game 3 of the World Cup final is possibly the best game a goalie has ever played. You always hear that "Oh, without him they'd be down 5-1." Yeah, but seriously, the first two periods it was tied 1-1 and a screened shot by Lindros is the only thing that beat Richter. And it honestly should have been 5-1 with the game over. The ice was tilted that much and Richter made saves that to this day still haunt me let alone the players that took them (hello Vincent Damphousse). He elevated the Americans to victory, and while he allowed another goal that game to Adam Foote, it was again a screen shot that he didn't even see. So I give this to Richter.
