Goaltender Connor Hellebuyck stopped 23 of 24 shots from the Ducks for the Winnipeg Jets though two periods Friday evening in Anaheim in his first game since the United States’ Olympic gold medal-winning victory.
Two of Hellebuyck’s saves came on shots by his Olympic teammate, Ducks defenseman Jackson LaCombe.
Alex Iafallo scored on the game’s first shot 1:24 into the first period. Winnipeg increased its lead to 2-0 on Gabriel Vilardi’s goal at 2:25 of the second period.
Jacob Trouba scored for the Ducks on a wrist shot with 41 seconds left in the second period after Hellebuyck stopped each of their first 23 shots at Honda Center..
The game was the Jets’ second since the NHL’s Olympic break.
Hellebuyck was not in uniform for Wednesday’s 3-2 overtime victory over the Vancouver Canucks in Vancouver, British Columbia, one day after he and most of his Olympic teammates attended the State of the Union address in Washington, which included President Donald Trump announcing he would soon present Hellebuyck the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Hellebuyck will become the first hockey player and 44th sports figure to receive the nation’s joint-highest civilian award of the United States, alongside the Congressional Gold Medal.
Willie O’Ree, the NHL’s first Black player, and the 1980 Olympic gold medal-winning hockey team have both been awarded Congressional Gold Medals.
Hellebuyck made 41 saves and assisted on Jack Hughes’ overtime goal in Sunday’s 2-1 victory over Canada in Milan, Italy, which gave the Americans their first Olympic gold medal in men’s hockey since 1980 and third all time.
“I’ve never seen a goaltender play as well as goalie Connor Hellebuyck,” Trump said during the State of the Union address.
Hellebuyck’s 41 saves were the most by a goaltender in the six Olympic finals involving NHL players. He was named both goalkeeper of the tournament and a tournament all-star. His 1.18 goals against average and 95.62 save percentage were both tournament bests.
LaCombe did not dress for any of the six U.S. games in the Olympics, all victories. Under Olympic rules, all players on the rosters of medal-winning teams receive medals.
LaCombe was added to the team Jan. 21, 22 days before its opener, replacing Florida Panthers defenseman Seth Jones, who suffered an upper-body injury when he was hit with a puck in the first period of the Winter Classic on Jan. 2.