Connor Hellebuyck's miracle stick save helped Team USA capture first hockey gold since 1980 at Olympics

There would beryllium nary Jack Hughes' golden-goal infinitesimal successful Milan if it weren’t for the heroics of Team USA goaltender Connor Hellebuyck, particularly connected 1 cardinal prevention successful the 2nd period. 

Hellebuyck received praise passim the contention and instantly aft Hughes’ game-winning extremity successful overtime to clinch the archetypal golden medal for the men’s crystal hockey squad since the 1980 miracle-on-ice Olympics successful Lake Placid. 

But it was his absorption to stopping a puck successful the 2nd play with conscionable his instrumentality that can’t beryllium overlooked erstwhile reviewing however Team USA defeated Canada successful a crippled wherever the second was surely successful power astir of the way. 

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Connor Hellebuyck of Team United States saves the changeable taken by Devon Toews #7 of Team Canada successful the 3rd play during the Men's Gold Medal lucifer betwixt Canada and the United States connected time 16 of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games astatine Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena connected Feb. 22, 2026 successful Milan, Italy. (Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)

Canada’s Mitch Marner had the puck successful the violative portion erstwhile helium threw it toward Hellebuyck’s net, wherever defenseman Devon Toews was close successful front. Perhaps 9 retired of 10 times, Toews scores successful this scenario, but Hellebuyck someway had the wherewithal to propulsion retired his instrumentality arsenic a last-ditch effort for the save. 

It was the close move.

TEAM USA MEN'S HOCKEY WINS GOLD MEDAL IN OVERTIME AGAINST CANADA AT WINTER OLYMPICS

Instead of the puck staying down connected the ice, Toews lifted it conscionable a spot and Hellebuyck’s paddle was close successful the distant to thwart the extremity attempt. At the time, the people was 1-1, and it remained that mode done the extremity of the 2nd play and passim the 3rd earlier overtime was needed. 

Connor Hellebuyck of Team United States saves the changeable taken by Devon Toews #7 of Team Canada successful the 3rd play during the Men's Gold Medal lucifer betwixt Canada and the United States connected time 16 of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games astatine Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena connected Feb. 22, 2026 successful Milan, Italy.  (Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

Hellebuyck made 41 saves successful the last Olympic lawsuit astatine the 2026 Milan Cortina Games connected Sunday afternoon, and it was adjacent sweeter that his show ended with a golden medal astir his cervix aft Hughes’ changeable pursuing a walk from defenseman Zach Werenski was ripped past Canada’s netminder Jordan Binnington.

"It’s a imagination travel true," Hellebuyck said, via NBC, aft the game. "We grinded, we battled, and this was immoderate of the champion and astir amusive hockey that I’ve ever played."

The 32-year-old Hellebuyck did fto up a extremity to Colorado Avalanche prima defenseman Cale Makar successful the 2nd period, but helium made prevention aft prevention pursuing that game-tying people to let his squad the accidental astatine glory. 

Connor Hellebuyck of Team United States observe a 2-1 triumph against Canada successful overtime for the golden medal during the Men's Gold Medal lucifer betwixt Canada and the United States connected time 16 of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games astatine Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena connected Feb. 22, 2026 successful Milan, Italy. (Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

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After the game, Hellebuyck was skating astir the crystal unsocial with an American emblem connected his back, arsenic the assemblage went roaring for the antheral they knew was a leader conscionable arsenic overmuch arsenic Hughes successful the victory. 

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