Jets on Hellebuyck's gold-medal win: 'We think he's the best goalie in the world'

The rest of the hockey world marvelled as Connor Hellebuyck put on a 41-save clinic to snap a 46-year Olympic gold-medal drought for the United States.

Inside the Winnipeg Jets' locker room, though, they just call that a typical night at the office.

As Hellebuyck's teammates gathered for practice in Winnipeg on Monday, they reflected on their goaltender's 2-1 overtime victory against Canada in Milan, Italy on Sunday. The overriding sentiment was not shock, but rather a mixture of national heartbreak and quiet validation.

"We've been saying this for a few years now: We think he's the best goalie in the world," Jets captain Adam Lowry said.

"Sometimes he gets unfairly criticized for our team's performance in the playoffs, and I think he went out and showed that he can show up in big games and can win you big games. Sometimes, I think we take it for granted how great he is, how easy he makes the game look."

For the Canadian contingent on the Jets, Sunday's gold-medal final presented a unique challenge when it came to where their loyalties lay. They desperately wanted their home country to win, but standing in the way of that was the same player they rely on to bail them out on a nightly basis with the Jets.

"Honestly, I'm cheering for Canada. I'll admit that. I've had that jersey on three times," said Jets head coach Scott Arniel, who won gold with Canada at the 1982 world junior championship. "Canada had all kind of chances to tie it up or to win the thing.

"It came down to one mistake, and it was over. I came out of my chair a few times, both ways."

Lowry, who watched the first two periods from bed before anxiously moving to his living room for the third period and overtime, echoed his coach's divided interests.

"I wanted