“Connor Hellebuyck was without a doubt our best player tonight,” Jack Hughes told NBC’s Kathryn Tappen after the game.
‘They will talk about this performance for generations to come’ Matthew Tkachuk said after the game. “It was an all-time performance from a superstar at his position. It will go down as one of the greatest performances of all time.”
Can the Winnipeg Jets’ struggles fall solely on Connor Hellebuyck?
The players know how much Connor Hellebuyck meant to them. Although he was not named MVP of the Olympic Tournament, that went to Canada Connor McDavid with 13 points (the most points in the Olympics among NHL players), those who watched the game know that Hellebuyck was the MVP of this 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. During the tournament he conceded a total of six goals. Realistically, it was four because the two goals came against Slovakia in the semifinals when Team USA had the match out of reach at 5-0.
In the Gold Medal Match against Canada, Hellebuyck posted a 1.00 GAA and a .976 save percentage and recorded an assist on Jack Hughes’ game-winning goal. He stopped 41 of 42 shots, the most of any goalkeeper in an Olympic gold medal game. For a goalkeeper who couldn’t deliver in big moments or big games, he silenced many of his critics.
“Yes, let them keep writing those articles and I’ll just act. That’s all. That’s all I can do,” Hellebuyck told NBC’s Kathryn Tappen when asked about the critics who said he couldn’t perform in big games.
Connor Hellebuyck needs to solve his playoff road problems
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, there will be no end to a 46-year drought in the US. He was the link for this group.
From the moment the puck dropped, Hellebuyck was in the zone. He stopped the clutch Nathan Mackinnon Early on, Connor McDavid broke away in the second period. Not to mention that Hellebuyck was the best player for Team USA, as Canada had a 5-on-3 power play just moments before in the second period Kale Makar scored to tie the match at 1-1.
IIHF was right at three-on-three overtime
Team USA was hot on their heels, but Hellebuyck made clutch saves. The save of the year and the tournament went to the defenseman Devon Toewswho was parked behind the door in the crease waiting for a pass from Mitch Marner.
If @TedStarkey said up @FullPressNHL this is the Braden Holtby save from the 2018 finals vs. Vegas #usahockey https://t.co/9B2CA2z4Mt
— Jim Biringer (@JimBiringer) February 22, 2026
Hellebuyck reached back and got his paddle on the puck written in front of the back of the net. He got enough of the puck to change direction and go just past the left goal post. Without that response, Canada is up 2-1 and Team USA doesn’t score Jordan Binnington.
It was similar to Washington Capitals goaltender Braden Holtby’s save on then-Vegas Golden Knights forward Alex Tuk in Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final, with Washington leading 3–2 late in the third period.
But Team USA got the breaks all game. Macklin Celebrini had several missed nets in the slot and was robbed by Hellebuyck during a breakaway. Nathan MacKinnon missed the wide open net. Hellebuyck got Team USA to overtime because of his brilliant play as the penalty kicks ended perfectly, and then only one more goal was needed.
Connor Hellebuyck is taking a lot of slack for his play in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. However, he had a brilliant Four Nations for Team USA, who could not score, falling 3-2 in extra time to Canada. He posted a 2–1 record in three matches at the tournament with a GAA of 1.59 and a save percentage of .945.
Tage Thompson heard Dylan Larkin’s call and answered the World Championships
Hellebuyck led all goaltenders 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 simply a follow-up to his previous performance in the Team USA jersey at the World Championships. Although that tournament is not the best of the best, he had a gift for the international stage.
This performance was sparked by his performance in Game 7 in period three against St. Louis, with his team trailing. Hellebuyck decided to go aggressive and big and keep his Winnipeg Jets in the game, which led to Cole Perfetti’s equalizer and Adam Lowry score the winning goal.
Connor Hellebuyck was nothing short of brilliant. Without Hellebuyck, Team USA may not get this far in the tournament. He showed why he was the Hart Trophy winner last season as NHL MVP in the Gold Medal Game.
People can still doubt him, but that’s just adding fuel to an already lit fire. It’s time for Connor Hellebuyck to get his comeuppance.
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