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![\"CAROLYN](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/4001508_web1_CP175848710.jpg\")
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CAROLYN KASTER \/ THE ASSOCIATED PRESS<\/p>\n
Slovakia\u2019s Adam Liska (23) battles with United States\u2019 Brock Faber (centre) for the puck in front of U.S. goalie Connor Hellebuyck (37) during the third-period of the semifinal game at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy.<\/p>\n
Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck continued to come up big for his country, stopping 22 of 24 shots in a game his teammates took full control of early. He\u2019s now given up just five goals in four games.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s incredible,\u201d said Tkachuk.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt seems like in a short tournament, even going back to last year at 4 Nations, he\u2019s been a brick wall. He\u2019s been awesome. He plays the puck very well. Seems like everything that\u2019s hitting him, sticks, he\u2019s so good. He\u2019s so steady. Probably the greatest asset is just the confidence he gives us. We are very excited to have him behind us for the gold medal game.\u201d<\/p>\n
It helps to have an offence that\u2019s firing on all cylinders as well.<\/p>\n
Jack Hughes scored twice, while Tage Thompson, Brady Tkachuk and Jack Eichel each chipped in with a goal and an assist. Dylan Larkin had the other tally, while defenceman Zach Werenski had three helpers on the night.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think we have everything,\u201d Hellebuyck said of his team.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have chemistry, we have awesome d-men, we have awesome scorers, playmakers, penalty kill, power play, like, we have it all.\u201d<\/p>\n
Naturally, the topic of the 4 Nations came up, with Hellebuyck on the losing end of that 3-2 overtime thriller which ended with Connor McDavid\u2019s goal.<\/p>\n
A chance here for some ice-cold revenge? Hellebuyck, the fishing aficionado, wasn\u2019t biting.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou know, I\u2019m going to be honest. I\u2019m not thinking about it right now,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019m going to enjoy the win and then prepare (Saturday).\u201d<\/p>\n
Slovakia had been a nice story in these Olympics, winning their group with a 2-1 record and then routing Germany in the quarterfinals on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
But they ran into a buzzsaw American squad that appears to be hitting its stride at the right time.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis group, we believe it\u2019s the best group in the whole tournament. Best group in the world,\u201d said Hughes. \u201cWe\u2019re really proud Americans and we\u2019re excited to have a chance at the gold medal.\u201d<\/p>\n
This will be just the third time these countries meet in a best-on-best gold medal game at the Olympics. Canada is a perfect 2-0, winning in 2002 and 2010.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s what every American and Canadian grows up watching. Grows up hearing about. This is the pinnacle of the sport. This is as good as it gets. A rivalry that\u2019s as good as it gets,\u201d said Tkachuk.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo there will be not one TV without this game on in the United States and in Canada and that should get you pretty fired up.\u201d<\/p>\n
Perhaps not quite as excited is Jets forward Kyle Connor, who was a healthy scratch for a third straight game. He was put on a line with Larkin and Thompson to start the tournament, but played himself out of the lineup after going without a point or even a shot on goal in his first two outings.<\/p>\n
He is now the 14th forward \u2014 teams can dress 13 \u2014 and likely his only way into Sunday\u2019s game is through an injury. On that front, Thompson did exit the game in the second period and didn\u2019t return, so perhaps there could be a window of opportunity?<\/p>\n
\u201cTage, we held him out for precautionary reasons more than anything,\u201d said head coach Mike Sullivan.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe held him out for a lower body injury, so we\u2019ll see how he recovers. But I would anticipate him being ready for game-time.\u201d<\/p>\n
The last time the United States men\u2019s hockey team won the gold medal at the Olympics was way back in 1980 at Lake Placid \u2014 also known as the \u201cMiracle On Ice.\u201d Such an outcome this time would be anything but miraculous.<\/p>\n
\u201cWithout a doubt (Friday\u2019s game) is the best that we\u2019ve played,\u201d said Sullivan.<\/p>\n
\n\t\tWinnipeg Free Press | Newsletter\n\t<\/p>\n
\t\t\tThe Warm-Up<\/p>\n
Winnipeg Jets Game Days<\/p>\n
On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop.<\/p>\n
\t\t\tSign up for The Warm-Up<\/a><\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t \u201cI think players have a better understanding of the role they\u2019ve been cast in and what their contribution is to try and help us win. I couldn\u2019t be more proud of these guys. It\u2019s truly a privilege to be their coach, to watch these guys compete the way they do. We know we have a challenge in front of us and a hard one in front of us. I couldn\u2019t be more happy with them.\u201d<\/p>\n The American women\u2019s hockey team has already captured the gold medal, rallying late on Thursday to beat Canada 2-1 in overtime.<\/p>\n Might that be a good omen for the men? Hellebuyck sure hopes so.<\/p>\n \u201cThey wore our colours proudly and I couldn\u2019t be more proud of them,\u201d he said. \u201cNow it\u2019s our turn.\u201d<\/p>\n www.winnipegfreepress.com\/mikemcintyre<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t Mike McIntyre 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<\/a>.<\/p>\n Every piece of reporting Mike produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print \u2014 part of the Free Press\u2018s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press\u2019s history and mandate<\/a>, and learn how our newsroom operates<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Reporter
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