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

Team USA women's hockey gold medalist Taylor Heise tells Fox News Digital she believed the men can replicate their success.

There would be no Jack Hughes' golden-goal moment in Milan if it weren’t for the heroics of Team USA goaltender Connor Hellebuyck, especially on one key save in the second period. 

Hellebuyck received praise throughout the contest and immediately after Hughes’ game-winning goal in overtime to clinch the first gold medal for the men’s ice hockey team since the 1980 miracle-on-ice Olympics in Lake Placid. 

But it was his reaction to stopping a puck in the second period with just his stick that can’t be overlooked when reviewing how Team USA defeated Canada in a game where the latter was certainly in control most of the way. 

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Connor Hellebuyck of Team United States saves the shot taken by Devon Toews #7 of Team Canada in the third period during the Men's Gold Medal match between Canada and the United States on day 16 of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on Feb. 22, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)

Canada’s Mitch Marner had the puck in the offensive zone when he threw it toward Hellebuyck’s net, where defenseman Devon Toews was right in front. Perhaps nine out of 10 times, Toews scores in this scenario, but Hellebuyck somehow had the wherewithal to throw out his stick as a last-ditch effort for the save. 

It was the right move.

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Instead of the puck staying down on the ice, Toews lifted it just a bit and Hellebuyck’s paddle was right in the away to thwart the goal attempt. At the time, the score was