THE STORY
In the 2002 Winter Olympics quarterfinals, Sweden's goaltender Tommy Salo allowed a long-range slapshot from Belarusian defenseman Vladimir Kopat to deflect off his mask, bounce off his back, and into the net, leading to a 4-3 upset loss for Sweden. This unexpected goal eliminated Sweden from the tournament.
TEAMS / PEOPLE:
NHL teams and players
WHY IT MATTERS
The goal is remembered as a pivotal moment in Olympic ice hockey, highlighting the unpredictability of the sport and the impact of individual errors in high-stakes games.