Connor Hellebuyck Is Carrying Team USA Toward Olympic Gold — Right Now
He is the reason Team USA is in this position. As the men's Olympic hockey gold medal game between the United States and Canada plays out live at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena this Sunday morning ET, Connor Hellebuyck — the Winnipeg Jets goaltender, three-time Vezina Trophy winner, and reigning NHL MVP — stands as the undisputed backbone of the American effort. With USA leading Canada 1-0 through the first period, every save Hellebuyck makes writes a new line in what is already a legendary Olympic run.
Connor Hellebuyck's Tournament Stats Are Historic
No goalie at the 2026 Milan Olympics has been better between the pipes. Going into today's gold medal game, Connor Hellebuyck has the best save percentage of the tournament at .9474, having conceded just five of the 95 shots he faced.
Over the last three seasons, Hellebuyck has saved 77.5 goals above average, per Natural Stat Trick. The next closest goalie is Andrei Vasilevskiy at 52.2. Canada's Jordan Binnington is below water at -6.54.
| Stat | Hellebuyck (USA) | Binnington (Canada) |
|---|---|---|
| Save Percentage | .9474 (best in tournament) | Below average (-6.54 GAA) |
| Goals Allowed | 5 | Multiple |
| Shots Faced | 95 | — |
| Vezina Trophies | 3 | 0 |
| NHL MVP | Yes (reigning) | No |
What Makes Connor Hellebuyck Goalie Impossible to Beat
Hellebuyck has a strong argument to be the best goalie in the league. He's a three-time Vezina Trophy winner and the reigning NHL MVP. When Hellebuyck is on his game, there's little that an opponent can do. Hellebuyck is 6-foot-4 and rarely out of position, making him incredibly tough to beat, and he has been great for the Americans in Milan.
His size, calm demeanor, and elite positioning have turned him into a wall the Canadians — McDavid, MacKinnon, Celebrini and all — must now solve. Hellebuyck looks poised tracking pucks. He's clearly recovered from the knee procedure he underwent earlier this season. When asked how close to 100% peak form he was feeling last week, he said: "Is there a number greater than 100%?"
Hellebuyck's Gold Medal Game Challenge: McDavid and MacKinnon
The test today is the hardest of his life. Canada's attack features Connor McDavid — who set an Olympic record with 13 points in five games — alongside Nathan MacKinnon, the NHL's leading scorer this season. Hellebuyck is capable of winning a game on his own between the pipes, and with USA holding a 1-0 lead after one period, he is doing exactly that.
Hellebuyck allowed just five goals in 90 shots faced for the best save percentage (.945) in this tournament. Here is his chance to prove he can show up in the biggest moments. Critics pointed to his 2025 playoffs as a vulnerability — but in Milan, none of that has shown.
His Semifinal Performance Set the Stage
Connor Hellebuyck made 22 saves to earn the win in goal for the U.S. in the 6-2 win over Slovakia in the semifinal. Even in a dominant team victory, he maintained his composure. After a misplay by Hellebuyck behind the goal gave Slovakia a goal late, he candidly admitted: "Tonight I got a little bored in there and it cost me a goal." Boredom is not a problem he faces today.
Hellebuyck's NHL Pedigree and Road to Milan
Born in Commerce, Michigan, and the starting goaltender for the Winnipeg Jets, Hellebuyck represents the pinnacle of American goaltending. His three Vezina Trophies — awarded annually to the NHL's best goaltender — place him among the greatest American-born netminders in hockey history.
The USA management team felt Hellebuyck deserved the opportunity to start these Olympics because of his résumé, and the 32-year-old has proved them right so far.
What a Hellebuyck Gold Would Mean
The U.S. men's hockey team has not won an Olympic gold medal since the "Miracle on Ice" in 1980 — 46 years ago. A Hellebuyck gold today would cement his legacy not just as the best active American goaltender, but as the man who ended nearly five decades of heartbreak.
Team USA did prevail 4-2 in their most recent Olympic match against Canada in the group stage at Beijing 2022, but in five Olympic clashes when NHL players have participated, Canada boast a 4-1 win record over their rivals.
