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There would be no Jack Hughes golden-goal moment in Milan if it weren’t for the heroics of Team USA goalkeeper Connor Hellebuyck, especially on a key save in the second period.
Hellebuyck received praise throughout the contest and immediately after Hughes’ game-winning goal in overtime to win the first gold medal for the men’s ice hockey team since the miracle-on-ice Olympics of 1980 in Lake Placid.
But it was his reaction to stopping a puck in the second period with just his stick that can’t be overlooked when reviewing how Team USA defeated Canada in a game where the latter was certainly in control most of the way.
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Connor Hellebuyck of Team United saves the shot taken by Devon Toews #7 of Team Canada during the third period during the men’s gold medal game between Canada and the United States on Day 16 of the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics at the Milan Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on February 22, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
Canada’s Mitch Marner had the puck in the offensive zone when he threw it toward Hellebuyck’s net, where defenseman Devon Toews was right in front. Maybe nine out of 10 times Toews scores in this scenario, but Hellebuyck somehow had the wherewithal to throw out his stick as a last-ditch save.
It was the right move.
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Instead of the puck staying down on the ice, Toews lifted it just a bit, and Hellebuyck’s paddle was just wide to thwart the field goal attempt. At the time, the score was 1-1, and it remained that way through the end of the second period and the whole of the third before going into extra time.
Connor Hellebuyck of Team United saves the shot taken by Devon Toews #7 of Team Canada during the third period during the men’s gold medal game between Canada and the United States on Day 16 of the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics at the Milan Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on February 22, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
Hellebuyck made 41 saves in the final Olympic event at the 2026 Milan Cortina Games on Sunday afternoon, and it was even sweeter that his performance ended with a gold medal around his neck after Hughes’ shot off a pass from defender Zach Werenski was ripped past Canada netminder Jordan Binnington.
“It’s a dream come true,” Hellebuyck said via NBC after the game. “We grinded, we battled, and this was some of the best and most fun hockey I’ve ever played.”
The 32-year-old Hellebuyck gave up a goal to Colorado Avalanche star defenseman Cale Makar in the second period, but he made the save after that tying score to give his team a chance at greatness.
Connor Hellebuyck of Team United celebrates a 2-1 overtime win against Canada for the gold medal during the men’s gold medal game between Canada and the United States on Day 16 of the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics at the Milan Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on February 22, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
After the game, Hellebuyck skated around the ice alone with an American flag on his back as the crowd roared for the man they knew was as much a hero as Hughes in victory.
