Team USA also won gold at the Winter Olympics in Men’s Ice Hockey as they defeated Canada 2-1 in overtime in the Gold Medal Game. Jack Hughes will make headlines for scoring the Golden Goal, but make no mistake, Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck was the reason the USA won the Gold.
“Connor Hellebuyck was our best player tonight,” Jack Hughes told NBC’s Kathryn Tappen after the game.
“They will be talking about this performance for generations,” Matthew Tkachuk said after the game. “It was an all-time performance from a genius in his position. It will go down as one of the best of all time.”
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The players know how much Connor Hellebuyck meant to them. Although he was not named the Olympic Tournament MVP, which went to Connor McDavid of Canada with 13 points (the most points in the Olympics by NHL players), those who watched the game know that Hellebuyck was the MVP of the tournament.
Hellebuyck was named the tournament’s top goaltender, posting a 5-0 record with a 1.18 goals-against average and a .956 save percentage. In the entire tournament, he gave up six goals. Actually, it was simply because the two goals against Slovakia in the semifinals came when Team USA could not reach 5-0.
In the Gold Medal Game against Canada, Hellebuyck posted a 1.00 GAA and .976 save percentage and recorded an assist on Jack Hughes’ game-winning goal. He stopped 41 of 42 shots, the most of any goaltender in an Olympic gold medal game. There is a goalkeeper who can deliver the ball in big moments or in big games, silencing many of his critics.
“Yeah, let them keep writing those headlines and I’m just going to do it. That’s all. That’s all I can do,” Hellebuyck told NBC’s Kathryn Tappen when asked by critics that she can’t sing in big games.
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While some say he was under-tested in the opening rounds against Italy and Germany, Hellebuyck was Team USA’s best player in the medal round and tournament. He scored one goal for Sweden in the quarterfinals and as previously noted, one goal for Canada in the Gold Medal Game. Without Connor Hellebuyck, the USA won’t end a 46-year drought. He was holding it in this group.
From the puck win, Hellebuyck was in the zone. He made clutch stops on Nathan MacKinnon on Connor McDavid’s second-half drive. Not to mention Hellebuyck was Team USA’s best player as Canada went 5-on-3 in the second half before Cale Makar scored to tie the game at 1-1.
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Team USA was on their heels, but there was Hellebuyck making clutch saves. Saving the year and the championship was defensive end Devon Toews, who was parked in the back door waiting for Mitch Marner to pass.
As @TedStarkey said @FullPressNHL this is a Braden Holtby save from the 2018 Final vs Vegas #usahockey
— Jim Biringer (@JimBiringer) February 22, 2026
Hellebuyck went back and got his paddle over the puck that was written in the back of the net. He got enough of the puck to change direction so that it went just past the left post. Despite that reaction, Canada is up 2-1, and Team USA is scoreless from Jordan Binington.
It was similar to the save Washington Capitals goaltender Braden Holtby made on Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Alex Tuch in Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final when Washington was up 3-2 late in the third period.
But Team USA got breaks all game long. Macklin Celebrini had several missed nets in space and was robbed by Hellebuyck on a breakaway. Nathan MacKinnon missed an open net. Hellebuyck got Team USA into overtime thanks to his smart play, as the penalty kill units finished well, and it only took one goal.
Connor Hellebuyck takes his performance in the Stanley Cup Playoffs lightly. However, he had a brilliant Four Nations for Team USA, who couldn’t score and fell 3-2 in overtime to Canada. He posted a 2-1 record in three games in the tournament with a 1.59 GAA and a .945 save percentage.
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Hellebuyck led all goaltenders in most games in the tournament with a .929 high-danger save percentage, including a 24-save performance in the championship game. This recently happened in his previous performance wearing a Team USA jersey at the World Championships. Although that competition is not the best, he had the ability to go to the International Stage.
This performance was established by his performance in Game 7 in the third period against St. Louis, and his team followed behind. Hellebuyck decided to be aggressive and big, keeping his Winnipeg Jets in the game, leading to Cole Perfetti’s layup and Adam Lowry’s game-winning goal.
Connor Hellebuyck was absolutely brilliant. Without Hellebuyck, Team USA may not be able to make it this far in the tournament. He showed why he won the Hart Trophy as NHL MVP last season in the Gold Medal Game.
People still doubt him, but that only fuels the fire that has been lit. It’s time for Connor Hellebuyck to get what he deserves.
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