Connor Hellebuyck's stick save, 41 saves power U.S. to gold
connor hellebuyck made 41 saves and kept the score 1-1 to force overtime as Team USA defeated Team Canada 2-1 in the Olympic men's hockey gold medal game, delivering the United States its first Olympic hockey gold since 1980. Jack Hughes scored the overtime game-winner past Canada’s netminder Jordan Binnington to decide the game.
Connor Hellebuyck's crucial stick save
One highlight of the game came when Hellebuyck somehow stopped a wide-open Devon Toews shot with only his stick, turning quickly with his right hand to stop the puck and keep the game tied. One account places that sequence in the opening minutes of the second period, with Toews creeping into the slot a few feet from Hellebuyck and getting a quick shot off that appeared to have an open net; another caption identified the same puck stop as occurring in the third period. The Canadian Devon Toews was listed as #7 in an image caption, and one description noted Toews as a Canadian Colorado Avalanche star who lifted the puck just enough for Hellebuyck’s paddle to get right in the way for the save.
Richter praises Hellebuyck's tenacity
Former U. S. goalie Mike Richter said he was flabbergasted by the stop and that he watched the sequence “like 10 times on replay. ” Richter invoked the names of Patrick Roy, Dominik Hasek and Jim Craig while saying “the key is he doesn’t give up on the puck. ” Richter recalled his own history against Canada, noting he backstopped the U. S. to a best-on-best win against Canada in the 1996 World Cup of Hockey and won consecutive 5-2 games against Canada in 1996. He added, “[Hellebuyck] did exactly what he had to do — he was in perfect position all night long. He wasn’t in great position for that, but then it is how much do you want it, and he wanted it. ”
Teammates call the play turning point
Defenseman Charlie McAvoy said he pegged the save on Toews as the turning point in the moment: “I was yelling down the bench, ‘That’s the one, ’” McAvoy said. “I was joking it’s the ‘TSN Turning Point. ’ That was the one I said, ‘Remember that!’ Then he made a couple of others. ” The U. S. fed off that save and Hellebuyck’s confidence throughout the game, and at times his brilliance seemed to demoralize Canada’s players, who missed multiple opportunities and some grade-A chances, including assistant captain Nathan MacKinnon missing a wide-open net in the third period.
Hegseth dubs him 'Secretary of Defense'
United States Secretary of War Pete Hegseth bestowed his old title on American goaltender Connor Hellebuyck after watching the victory. A social media account had dubbed Hellebuyck the “Secretary of Defense, ” and Hegseth, who held that title before the agency he heads became known as the Department of War last September, endorsed the designation with the comment, “Now we have a Secretary of War…and a Secretary of Defense!” Hegseth also said the IRS news points to “what we're doing to rebuild our military. ”
Score, sequence and celebration
The 32-year-old Hellebuyck did allow a goal to Colorado Avalanche star defenseman Cale Makar in the second period, but he made save after save following that game-tying score to give his team a chance at glory. Hellebuyck finished with 41 saves in the 2-1 overtime victory. After the game he skated around the ice alone with an American flag on his back as the crowd roared its approval. The match was staged at the Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on Feb. 22, 2026 in Milan, Italy, and was also described as taking place at Santaguilia Arena on day 16 or day sixteen of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games.
Canada forward Sam Bennett acknowledged the U. S. goalie’s performance: “You have to tip your hat to their goalie — he played great, ” Bennett said. “We had a lot of looks. We generated what we wanted, but sometimes the goalie steals it, and he did a great job. ” Hellebuyck said after the game, “It’s a dream come true. We grinded, we battled, and this was some of the best and most fun hockey that I’ve ever played. ”
Image credits attached to coverage named Jared C. Tilton and Alex Wong in photo captions.
The U. S. victory, sealed by Jack Hughes’ overtime goal past Jordan Binnington and underpinned by connor hellebuyck’s 41 saves and the pivotal stick stop, brought American fans celebration and renewed talk of the 1980 Olympic gold run when Jim Craig made 36 saves in an improbable 4-3 victory in that earlier tournament.
Closing: Team USA’s 2-1 overtime win over Team Canada combined Hellebuyck’s individual mastery, teammates’ responses and public reaction from figures such as Pete Hegseth to deliver the country its first Olympic hockey gold since 1980.
