The United States and Canada are fierce rivals on the Olympic ice hockey stage.
Since the NHL first allowed its players to participate in the Olympics in 1998, the two nations have faced off in the knockout stages three times and the gold medal game twice: 2002 and 2010.
When you think of epic Olympic hockey moments by Team Canada players, I’d be shocked if your mind doesn’t immediately turn to Sidney Crosby and his 2010 accomplishment in Vancouver.
Crosby was on Canada’s Olympic squad for the first time in 2010 after being snubbed for the Torino Olympics in 2006, when the Canadians finished seventh, just ahead of the Americans in eighth.
Both teams had a much better tournament in Vancouver, with Canada and the United States facing off in the gold medal game.
Team USA forward Zach Parise tied the game with 24 seconds left in regulation, setting the stage for Crosby’s heroics in overtime. More on that later.
While Crosby is a shoo-in for having the best tournament on the international stage, other unforgettable Olympic performances by Team Canada NHL players involved key games against Team USA.
Top 5 Olympic performances by Team Canada players
5. Mario Lemieux, 2002
Mario Lemieux had six points in five games en route to Canada’s 2002 Olympic gold. While he didn’t put the team on his back as so often happened throughout his illustrious career, Lemieux came to life in the medal rounds.
The ‘Magnificent One’ posted three assists in the quarterfinal and semifinal victories over Belarus and Finland before setting up Paul Kariya in the gold medal game against Team USA. He finished one point behind Joe Sakic, Canada’s leading scorer at the tournament, despite playing one less game.
4. Jarome Iginla, 2002
Jarome Iginla accomplished a lot during his storied career, but nothing, not even the Calgary Flames’ fairytale run to the 2004 Stanley Cup Final, compared to his exploits at the 2002 Olympics.
Iginla scored four points in six games, three of which came in the 5-2 victory over Team USA in the final.
If you look up the definition of clutch, don’t be surprised if you see Iginla’s performance against the Americans as a supporting case study. As a caveat, his performance at the 2010 Olympics was equally impressive.
3. Joe Sakic, 2002
Sakic saved the best for last in 2002, scoring four of his seven points in the final against Team USA. The Hall of Famer put on a show on the world’s most prominent and high-pressure stage, setting up both of Iginla’s goals and scoring a pair, including the game-winner.
He finished the tournament as Canada’s leading scorer, one point ahead of Lemieux and Steve Yzerman. His point haul was two points behind the tournament’s leading scorer, Mats Sundin of Sweden.
2. Carey Price, 2014
Canada has Carey Price to thank for its 2014 gold medal at the Sochi Olympics. In five games, Price was all but impenetrable, sporting a sensational 0.59 goals-against average and 0.972 save percentage.
But it was his performances in the knockout stage that received heaping praise. Price secured back-to-back shutouts in the semifinal against Team USA and in the final versus Sweden to propel Canada to glory. He allowed just one goal in the 2-1 quarterfinal victory over Latvia.
It will come as no surprise that Price followed up his otherworldly Olympics by winning the NHL’s Vezina Trophy, Ted Lindsay Award and Hart Trophy in 2014-15.
1. Sidney Crosby, 2010
Crosby’s overtime goal against the Americans to secure gold will forever be etched in the annals of Canadian hockey history.
While he didn’t score a point in the quarterfinal or semifinal, Crosby showed up when it mattered most, ensuring Canada won its first Olympic gold medal since 2002.
Crosby finished the 2010 Olympics with seven points (four goals and three assists), one behind Jonathan Toews for the team lead and three adrift of the tournament’s leading scorer, Pavol Demitra of Slovakia.