According to writer Randy Feldman, he wrote the first draft of the screenplay for the movie as a comedy/action movie parody. The only scene that remained in the finished film was the scene where Van Damme fights the penguin mascot. The original vision for this movie would become the basis for the remake Mort subite 2 (2020).
The film was shot during the NHL lockout during the 1994 - 1995 hockey season, which was finally resolved later that year.
Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sylvester Stallone, and Bruce Willis were considered for the role of Darren McCord, but all three turned the role down before Jean-Claude Van Damme got the part:
- Schwarzenegger turned down the role because he had already filmed True Lies : Le Caméléon (1994) and Junior (1994) back to back.
- Stallone turned the role down because he didn't like the quality of the script.
- Willis turned the part down because he was already working on Une journée en enfer (1995).
While shooting inside of the Civic Arena, in some sections there were cardboard cut outs of people because production didn't have enough money to pay any more extras.
The announcer used in the movie is actually the Pittsburgh Penguins' real announcer Mike Lange. He also uses some of his trademark sayings such as "Scratch my back with a hacksaw" and "Call Arnold Slick in Turtle Crick". The color commentator is also the current Penguins radio play by play man, Paul Steigerwald.