MILAN — On the biggest stage, under the brightest lights, with the weight of an entire nation on his back, Connor Hellebuyck proved he can elevate his game to the highest level — and deliver when it matters most.
The Winnipeg Jets netminder backstopped the United States to Olympic gold Sunday afternoon, stopping 41 of 42 shots in an instant classic that ended with a 2-1 overtime victory to close out the Milano Cortina Games.
“Oh my gosh, they’re going to be talking about this performance for generations,” said U.S. forward Matthew Tkachuk.
United States’ Connor Hellebuyck (37) makes a stick save against Canada during the third period of Sunday’s game. (Petr David Josek / The Associated Press)
“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 — it has to.”
While Jack Hughes will forever be etched in history for scoring the golden goal during a brief three-on-three session for all the marbles, make no mistake: Hellebuyck is the only reason the Americans even got this beyond regulation.
His personal highlight reel included stoning Connor McDavid on a breakaway, robbing Macklin Celebrini on another solo dash, and then committing grand theft larceny against Devon Toews with a diving paddle save.
Just another day at the office? Hardly — though Hellebuyck admitted he sensed something special early.
“It’s crazy, I came into this game, probably one of the biggest of my career, and the second I woke up (Sunday) morning I felt I was doing everything right,” he said.
“I was stepping in the right spot, every step I took I felt right. It kinda translated.”
From walking the walk — quite literally — to talking the talk, Hellebuyck also explained the save that will live on forever.
“You know, it’s not my first stick save in my career. But it’s probably the biggest moment to make a stick save,” he said.
“But, you know, when I’m rolling back and puck’s not in the net, it’s just an overwhelming feel of ‘I got this.’”
There was a sweetness to the moment for Hellebuyck, who has long heard whispers in hockey circles questioning whether he’s a “big-game goalie.” Despite a résumé that includes a Hart Trophy, two Jennings and three Vezina Trophies, he has yet to lead the Jets to the Stanley Cup and has struggled at times in the playoffs.
“Those critics, they can keep writing,” Hellebuyck said when asked about his reputation.
“But they don’t understand goaltending. They definitely don’t understand my game. I know what I’m putting forward. I know what I’m building. These are the moments that prove it — not that I need to, but these are the moments I enjoy and this is why I play the game.”
U.S. defenceman Zach Werenski, who trains with Hellebuyck in Michigan during the off-season, said several narratives should finally be put to rest.
“He showed the world why he’s the best goalie in the world,” he said. “I honestly don’t know if I have ever seen a goalie performance like that. Whatever people say about him, I think he put it to rest and I’m happy about that.”
Hellebuyck was his big-and-boring best against Canada, unflappable amid the chaos around his crease. The only puck that beat him was a wicked wrister from Cale Makar late in the second period.
“He’s a stud, and I was telling him in between each TV timeout that he’s the best in the world,” said American forward Brock Faber.
“We all know it. And I just kept telling him, you’re the best in the world. He would just smile and nod and say, ‘I know.’”
How relaxed was he? Defenceman Quinn Hughes laughed while recalling Hellebuyck falling asleep on the team bus earlier in the tournament as they headed from the athlete’s village to the rink ahead of a must-win quarterfinal game against Sweden.
“I was like, ‘We’re good with this guy.’ He’s very relaxed. Kind of since that moment I was like, ‘This guy, he’s going to be good,’” said Hughes, who described Hellebuyck “an absolute maniac” with his play.
Indeed, Hellebuyck was sensational throughout the tournament, playing five of six games, facing 137 shots and stopping 131 of them for a staggering .956 save percentage.
“He channeled his Jimmy Craig,” said U.S. defenceman Charlie McAvoy — a nod to the famous American puck-stopper from that incredible 1980 men’s team that was the last to claim Olympic gold.
“He was unbelievable. He had so many saves. Like the one in the third on Toews, we’re going down the bench saying ‘That’s the one.’ And then he made a couple more. There were times in this game for sure when we were on our heels. It’s hockey. You need good goaltending and we got it. He’s the best player in the league, and we have him on our side.”
How’s this for some serendipity: Sunday marked the 46th anniversary of the epic “Miracle On Ice” game at Lake Placid. One of the members of that team — Jets 1.0 forward Dave Christian — was at the rink in Italy to watch his nephew, Brock Nelson, make some more hockey history.
Nelson was fighting back tears as he spoke about the family connection — while also giving Hellebuyck a shout-out for making it all possible.
“I think everyone saw the stick save. He’s an unbelievable goalie,” said Nelson, who came close to becoming a teammate of Hellebuyck’s at the trade deadline last March, only to be shipped from the New York Islanders to the Colorado Avalanche instead.
“We had all the confidence in him every game here. He gave us a chance to win, and (Sunday) was a prime example of that.”
Hellebuyck’s road to gold wasn’t seamless. He began the NHL season with lingering knee pain, eventually undergoing arthroscopic surgery in November and briefly wondering whether his Olympic hopes were in jeopardy.
“You know, at the time, there were scary moments, never having a big injury,” Hellebuyck said.
“There was some doubt whether it was going to affect my game. But that process played its way out. It was just water on a duck’s back.”
Hellebuyck will share this gold medal with Jets teammate and fellow Michigan product Kyle Connor, who didn’t play nearly the same role: He was a healthy scratch on Sunday for a fourth straight game, appearing in just the first two outings, who no points and no shots.
This triumph also carried a dose of ice-cold revenge for Hellebuyck and his teammates.
One year earlier, he was beaten in overtime at the 4 Nations Face-Off Final by McDavid, with Jordan Binnington in the opposite crease. The same matchup resurfaced Sunday, adding another chapter to a growing duel that already includes last spring’s Jets–St. Louis Blues “Manitoba Miracle” playoff epic.
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“It’s cool to have a rivalry like that and battle. We’ve had some special moments competing,” said Binnington.
Hellebuyck arrived in Italy amid questions about whether he’d even be the starter. The Jets’ struggles and a dip in his numbers added fuel to the doubt. Instead, U.S. coach Mike Sullivan looked prescient for riding Hellebuyck over Jeremy Swayman and Jake Oettinger.
“I think Connor was part of the foundation of this group from the get-go,” said Sullivan.
“Dating back to the 4 Nations and throughout the course of this tournament. Just a high stakes player in a high stakes environment. I think that’s when players build their legacy. Connor certainly did that (Sunday).”
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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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