Team USA is golden once again 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 get the headlines for scoring the Golden Goal, but make no mistake about it, Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck was the reason for USA winning Gold.
“Connor Hellebuyck was our best player tonight hands down,” Jack Hughes told Kathryn Tappen of NBC following the game.
“They’re going to be talking about this performance for generations,” Matthew Tkachuk said post-game. “It was an all-time performance from a superstar at his position. It’s gonna go down as one of the best performances of all time.”
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The players know how much Connor Hellebuyck meant to them. While he was not named Olympic Tournament MVP, that went to Canada’s Connor McDavid with 13 points (the most points at the Olympics with NHL players), those who watched the game know Hellebuyck was the MVP of this tournament.
Hellebuyck was named best goaltender of the tournament, posting a record of 5-0 with a 1.18 goals against average and a .956 save percentage. Throughout the tournament, he gave up a total of six goals. Realistically, it was four because the two goals against Slovakia in the semifinal came when Team USA had the game out of reach at 5-0.
In the Golde Medal Game against Canada, Hellebuyck posted a 1.00 GAA and a .976 save percentage and recorded an assist on the game-winning goal by Jack Hughes. He stopped 41 of 42 shots, the most by any goalie in a gold medal game at the Olympics. For a goalie who couldn’t deliver in big moments or big games, he silenced many of his critics.
“Yeah, let them keep writing those articles and I’ll just performing. That’s it. That’s all I can do,” Hellebuyck told Kathryn Tappen of NBC when he was asked about the critics saying he couldn’t perform in big games.
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While some say he wasn’t tested in the preliminary rounds against Italy and Germany, Hellebuyck was the best player for Team USA in the medal and knockout rounds. He gave up one goal to Sweden in the quarterfinals and as previously noted, one goal to Canada in the Gold Medal Game. Without Connor Hellebuyck USA doesn’t end a 46-year drought. He was clutch for this group.
From the drop of the puck, Hellebuyck was in the zone. He made clutch stops on Nathan MacKinnon early then on Connor McDavid in the second period on a breakaway. Not to mention, Hellebuyck was the best player for Team USA as Canada had a 5-on-3 power play in the second period right before Cale Makar scored to tie the game at 1-1.
IIHF Got it Right with Three on Three Overtime
Team USA was on their heels, but there was Hellebuyck making clutch saves. The save of the year and tournament was on defenseman Devon Toews, who was parked back door in the crease waiting on a pass from Mitch Marner.
As @TedStarkey said on @FullPressNHL this is the Braden Holtby save from 2018 Final vs Vegas #usahockey
— Jim Biringer (@JimBiringer) February 22, 2026
Hellebuyck reached back and got his paddle on the puck that was written for the back of the net. He got enough of the puck to change its direction to go just past the left goal post. Without that reaction, Canada is up 2-1, and Team USA doesn’t score on Jordan Binnington.
It was similar to the save Washington Capitals goaltender Braden Holtby made on then Vegas Golden Knights forward Alex Tuch in Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final with Washington up 3-2 late in the third period.
But Team USA got the breaks the whole game. Macklin Celebrini had multiple missed nets in the slot and was robbed by Hellebuyck on a breakaway. Nathan MacKinnon missed wide open net. Hellebuyck got Team USA to overtime because of his brilliant play, as the penalty killing units finished perfect, and then it just takes one goal.
Connor Hellebuyck takes a lot of slack for his play in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. 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 record of 2-1 in three games at the tournament with a 1.59 GAA and a .945 save percentage.
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Hellebuyck led all goalies who played multiple games in the tournament with a .929 high-danger save percentage, including a 24-save performance in the championship game. This was just carry over from his past performances wearing the Team USA sweater at the World Championships. While that tournament isn’t best on best, he had the knack for the International Stage.
This performance was set up by his performance in Game 7 in period three against St. Louis, with his team trailing. Hellebuyck decided to get aggressive and big, keeping his Winnipeg Jets in the game, which led to Cole Perfetti‘s tying goal and Adam Lowry scoring the winning goal.
Connor Hellebuyck was absolutely brilliant. Without Hellebuyck, Team USA may not make it this far in the tournament. He showed why he was the Hart Trophy winner as NHL MVP last season in the Gold Medal Game.
People can still doubt him, but that is just fuel to an already lit fire. It’s time for Connor Hellebuyck to get his due.
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