MILAN – In Connor Hellebuyck they trust. Kyle Connor? Not so much.
It’s safe to say these Winter Olympics have taken drastically different turns for a pair of Winnipeg Jets.
Hellebuyck, the reigning Hart and Vezina Trophy winner, has stamped his claim on the No. 1 job with the United States team following a pair of solid starts, the most recent coming Sunday night in a 5-1 victory over Germany that secured top spot in the Americans’ group.
Carolyn Kaster / The Associated Press
Winnipeg Jets’ goalie Connor Hellebuyck, right, has laid claim on the No. 1 job with the United States Olympic team following a pair of solid starts, the most recent coming Sunday night in a 5-1 victory over Germany.
“I just think he was tracking pucks extremely well. He was composed,” said American coach Mike Sullivan.
“A lot of pucks just hit him, and he makes it look easy the way he squares up to pucks. His rebound control, he swallowed everything. There was no rebounds for Germany to have an opportunity to create a next play. I thought this was his very best. You could feel his confidence from the bench just watching him make the saves.”
Hellebuyck made a strong first impression Thursday night, stopping 17 of 18 shots in a 5-1 win over Latvia. He got a rest Saturday when Jeremy Swayman drew the start against Denmark, struggling mightily in what turned into a tougher-than-it-should-have-been 6-3 victory that included two particularly ugly goals.
Back in the crease Sunday, Hellebuyck was much busier against a German lineup featuring several stars, including Leon Draisaitl, J.J. Peterka and Tim Stützle, who was the only player to beat him on the night. Hellebuyck turned aside 23 shots, giving him a .952 save percentage through round-robin play to go along with a 1.00 goals-against average.
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“He’s so steady. He has so much fun out there, and I think for us seeing that, it just kind of gives us a boost of confidence,” said U.S. captain Auston Matthews, who led the way offensively with two goals and an assist.
“Never really seems like he’s in a panic or anything. He’s just in such good position and that’s why he’s one of the best in the world. Obviously that’s a guy that we’ve got a lot of faith in back there.”
Defenceman Zach Werenski spoke Sunday night about working out with Hellebuyck during the summer in Michigan and getting an up-close look at what makes him tick.
“I know how hard it is to score on him consistently,” said Werenski, who plays for the Columbus Blue Jackets.
“He’s just super solid back there. He’s steady, doesn’t give up much, doesn’t give up any rebounds and it makes us have a calming presence in front of him.”
Carolyn Kaster / The Associated Press
Team U.S. goalie Connor Hellebuyck turned aside 23 shots Sunday against Germany, giving him a .952 save percentage through round-robin play and a 1.00 goals-against average.
It hasn’t been the easiest season in Winnipeg for Hellebuyck, who arrived at training camp dealing with lingering knee pain before eventually opting for arthroscopic surgery that sidelined him for nearly a month.
He hasn’t been nearly as sharp since returning in late November, and the Jets are languishing near the bottom of the National Hockey League standings after winning the Presidents’ Trophy last year.
Hellebuyck has spoken often about his hunger to win a Stanley Cup one day — and an Olympic gold medal sits high on that wish list, too.
“Keep building the game every day. Don’t worry about what the other team brings. Just bring your game,” said Hellebuyck.
“Everyone in front of me is so skilled and does their job so to a T that you can really rely and trust everyone around you. I think everyone on the team has their own unique skill set and they bring it. It’s a complete team, so everyone, everyone’s needed.”
Well, maybe not quite everyone.
Kyle Connor, who has scored 26 goals this season for the Jets while playing on the top line with Mark Scheifele and Gabe Vilardi, was largely invisible through his first two Olympic games. He didn’t record a single shot on goal and saw his ice time reduced to just over nine minutes in Saturday’s contest.
By Sunday, that number was down to zero.
Connor was a healthy scratch, with forward Clayton Keller — who also happens to be his roommate in the athletes’ village — drawing into the lineup in his place.
Petr David Josek / The Associated Press
United States’ Kyle Connor stumbles during a preliminary round match against Denmark, Saturday. Connor did not play in Sunday’s game against Germany.
It’s fair to wonder if Connor’s Olympics are effectively over. The Americans now head into the elimination round, beginning with Wednesday’s quarterfinal against either Sweden or Latvia.
Assuming Sullivan sticks with Sunday’s lineup, there’s little reason to change course. Either the U.S. keeps winning — and why alter a winning formula — or the tournament ends in heartbreak.
For Connor, it’s a case of déjà-vu.
He struggled during last year’s 4 Nations Face-Off and was a healthy scratch by the time his team reached the gold-medal game against Canada. He told the Free Press last week he had learned from that experience and used it as motivation.
Unfortunately, it didn’t translate to his play on the ice.
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Mike McIntyre is a sports reporter whose primary role is covering the Winnipeg Jets. After graduating from the Creative Communications program at Red River College in 1995, he spent two years gaining experience at the Winnipeg Sun before joining the Free Press in 1997, where he served on the crime and justice beat until 2016. Read more about Mike.
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