American Jeremy Swayman allows a long-distance goal against Denmark at the Olympics
United States' goalkeeper Jeremy Swayman dives to makes a save as Denmark's Nick Olesen scores his side's opening goal during a preliminary round game of men's ice hockey between the United States and Denmark at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026. Credit: AP/Bruce Bennett
MILAN — In net for the U.S. against Denmark at the Olympics on Saturday night, Jeremy Swayman gave up a goal from 95 feet out that could get talked about for years to come.
Nicholas B. Jensen sent a seemingly harmless shot toward Swayman from just past the center red line. Swayman moved his glove, and the puck went in over his right shoulder.
The goal gave Denmark a 2-1 lead over the heavily favored Americans just past the midway point of the first period. Jensen had scored three goals in 11 years of international play before this.
On the NBC broadcast, analyst and retired goalie Brian Boucher wondered if the dark color of the boards contributed to Swayman not being able to see where the shot came from.
No matter how, it brought back memories of Belarus’ Vladimir Kopat beating Sweden’s Tommy Salo at the 2002 Olympics in Salt Lake on a similar long-distance shot from center ice. That goal came with 2:24 left in the quarterfinals and was responsible for one of the biggest upsets in international hockey history.
The U.S. coaching staff chose Swayman to start the second game against Denmark over Jake Oettinger with No. 1 goalie Connor Hellebuyck expected to play in the round-robin finale Sunday night against Germany. Coach Mike Sullivan said a lot went into the decision.
“At the end of the day, we’re playing three games in four nights,” Sullivan said after his team's gameday skate. “We’ve got have three guys that we know are capable of helping us win games."
Denmark's Nicholas Jensen celebrates with his teammates after scoring his side's second goal during a preliminary round match of men's ice hockey between United States and Denmark at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026. Credit: AP/Petr David Josek
Swayman was having perhaps the best NHL season of the three with the Boston Bruins and backstopped the U.S. to win the world championships last spring. Hellebuyck of the Winnipeg Jets is the reigning league MVP, while Oettinger has helped the Dallas Stars make three consecutive deep playoff runs to the Western Conference final.
