Denmark scored a center ice goal against the United States during the hockey game at the Olympics on Saturday. The embarrassing concession from Jeremy Swayman can be directly attributed to poor design and awkward angles.
It is hard to see a black puck against a black background when it has been deflected!
Don’t get me wrong— a starting goaltender in the NHL should have no problem stopping a soft wrister from the red line. That does not mean the Olympics did not also put the goalies at a disadvantage. More than one thing can be true! There are multiple factors at play with the pathetic goal.
Team USA goalie Jeremy Swayman conceded a center ice goal to Denmark.
This extremely awkward sequence of events took place during the first period. Nicholas Jensen of Denmark advanced the puck just past center ice and flung a wrist shot toward the net.
He was not actively trying to score. It was a soft effort that presented an opportunity for a line change.
However, his shot somehow found the back of the net. An audible groan mixed with a gasp could be heard throughout the arena when the goal was scored.
DENMARK SCORES FROM CENTER ICE. 🤯#WinterOlympics pic.twitter.com/jELsaAl6Fb
— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) February 14, 2026
Swayman was far too deep in his crease. There was no reason for him to go to his knees. It was not good goaltending. He gave up a goal from center ice to a guy who played college hockey at SUNY Plattsburgh.
That simply cannot happen. Period.
The Olympics designed a hockey rink with black boards.
Although there is no excuse for Swayman’s mishap, there might be an explanation. First and foremost, it appeared as though the puck was deflected off the defenseman’s leg and changed directions.
That put Swayman in a tough position to make the stop. He had already committed to one angle. The deflection forced him to readjust. It wouldn’t have been an issue if he didn’t drop into butterfly.
Again, no excuses, but nobody seemed to notice the deflection!
The color of the boards also played a role in the center ice goal. The vast majority of ice rinks across the entire globe are surrounded by white walls. Just not in Italy for the Olympics.
The Olympic hockey venue in Milan features colored boards. They are a mix of dark blue, black, light blue and green.
It is hard for a goalie to locate and track the black hockey puck against the dark boards. It is very possible that Swayman never saw the puck once it took flight.
Fortunately, the center ice goal did not have an impact on the result. The United States defeated Denmark. Jeremy Swayman was not responsible for a loss. The center ice goal is in the past.