Matthew Tkachuk pointed out the specific moment when he thinks Connor McDavid could have stepped up as Canada’s hero while Sidney Crosby was out during the Olympic gold medal match.
Connor McDavid was just inches away from changing the game’s flow, but a vital save by US goalie Connor Hellebuyck made the difference in Team USA’s 2-1 win over Canada in overtime.
On the Wingmen podcast, American player Matthew Tkachuk highlighted McDavid’s breakaway in the second period as a key moment that might have changed how the game ended.
“Connor McDavid is the best player in the world. No one compares to him from top to bottom. We may have never seen a player like him in our history,” Tkachuk explained.
“It felt like it could have been a big moment for Canada, especially since Crosby was out, and McDavid was on that breakaway. If he scores, he becomes the Canadian hero who gets them back in the game, giving them a real shot at winning. ”
A moment that could have flipped the game
This key moment happened early in the second period when the score was tied at 1-1. McDavid, who took over as Canada’s captain after Crosby got hurt earlier in the tournament, found himself one-on-one with the goalie, exactly the kind of situation that has led to many goals in his career.
“He comes in, and Helly just waits him out, looking confident, calm, and relaxed in front of the goal, making an amazing save that gave us a lot of mental strength,” Tkachuk shared.
“The best player in the world is coming at him during a breakaway, and he just closes the door. ”
Matthew Tkachuk discussing Connor Hellebuyck’s save on Connor McDavid’s breakaway during the second period of the Gold Medal game on @Wingmenpod:
The greatest player on the planet is Connor McDavid. From head to toe, no one compares to him — it’s likely there has never been anyone quite like him in…
— Jonny Lazarus (@JLazzy23) February 26, 2026
McDavid ended the competition with an amazing 13 points, scoring 2 goals and making 11 assists over six games. He broke the old Olympic record of 11 points set by Finland’s Teemu Selanne and Saku Koivu in 2006. Even though Canada lost, he was named the Most Valuable Player and Best Forward of the tournament.
But the Oilers leader couldn’t score in the final game. He was stopped by Hellebuyck, who made 41 saves and was chosen as the tournament’s best goalie.
“I believed we played well and that we did enough to win,” McDavid mentioned afterward. “Their goalie made some crucial saves, and I think we also missed some good chances. It’s obviously disappointing; there’s no way to pretend otherwise. It’s a bummer. ”
Canada had more shots than the United States in the final, with 42 compared to 28, and they created many good chances, but Hellebuyck was tough to beat. The Jets’ goalie not only stopped McDavid’s breakaway but also made an incredible save on Devon Toews and kept Macklin Celebrini from scoring on another great chance.
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