Connor-freakin’-Hellebuyck.
Sure, Canada lost a dramatic gold medal game against the despised USA team on Sunday in Milan, Italy, but to think they weren’t the better team would be foolhardy.
And sure, while they were the better team, by a couple hundred kilometres, they unfortunately didn’t house the best player.
That would be Hellebuyck.
By a couple hundred kilometres.
Ironically to many, the stopper calls the NHL’s northernmost Canadian team home. That would be Winnipeg.
The Jets ‘keeper was almost absolutely unbeatable in halting 41 Canadian shots in Team USA’s 2-1 overtime win. The only Canuck goal came off the stick of Calgarian Cale Makar who snuck one over the left pad late in the second period. The Americans had snuck ahead much earlier as Matt Boldy snuck through an unsuspecting Canadian blueline and tucked one in past Jordan Binnington seven minutes into the first.
The overtime, 3-on-3, lasted just 1:41 before New Jersey Devil Jack Hughes sifted one over Binnington for the win.
“It’s so special, just to feel this feeling and play for your country . . . It’s all about the team first and it’s just such a special group of guys. Such a special feeling,” told US captain Auston Matthews to CBC minutes after the sin.
To put it mildly, this was one of the best games in the history of hockey. It had it all – brilliant chances, back-and-forth play, posts, heavy hits (Tom Wilson threw one of the biggest hits this corner has ever seen), line matching and juggling, and pure, unadorned skill.
After a fairly even opening period, Canada upped its tempo and poured it on. Both Nathan MacKinnon and Devon Toews had wide-open nets to fire at but could not finish the job.
As jittery as the two nations were, on the ice or sitting at home nervously cheering on their side, the referees seemed the same.
A brutal too-many-men-on-the-ice infraction by the US was missed late in the contest by the officials. A number of trips and interference penalties went uncalled as well.
On the positive side, the win for the Americans was a tremendous tribute to the late Johnny Gaudreau who died in a cycling crash on Aug. 29th, 2024. Gaudreau’s family was in attendance, and the Team USA players acknowledged their presence and often reflected in interviews on how much he was on their minds.
It’s been a long time between big wins for the Americans. It was 46 years ago when they won gold at the Games and only the country’s third gold medal in history.
From the Canadian perspective, as CBC analyst Elliotte Friedman reminded everyone, the country has had it’s share of gold at all levels of international play, and you can’t expect to win every time.
Also, you have to love the emergence of 19-year-old Macklin Celebrini. If the NHL returns in 2030, Celebrini will be a centrepiece . . . he was that good in Milan.
Sadly, this could be the final Games for Sidney Crosby. He missed the final two games with a lower-body injury. At age 38, it might be a bit of a reach to expect to see Sid again in four years.
Then again, it is Crosby.
You never know.
thegrossgame@yahoo.com
