MILAN – Team USA isn't overthinking its last line of defense.
Connor Hellebuyck was tabbed as the starting goalie for the United States' first game of the men's 2026 Winter Olympics ice hockey tournament Thursday against Latvia.
After backstopping Team USA to a second-place finish at the 4 Nations Faceoff last February, Hellebuyck is getting first dibs on the net in his Olympic debut.
Connor Hellebuyck (left), Jeremy Swayman (middle) and Jake Oettinger on the practice ice for Team USA at the Olympics on Feb. 9, 2026. Getty Images
"He's obviously an elite goalie," head coach Mike Sullivan said after morning skate Thursday.
"We think we have three elite goalies. We have ultimate confidence in all three guys. These decisions aren't easy, but we made a decision to start with Connor and we'll go from there."
Hellebuyck, the NHL's reigning Hart and Vezina Trophy-winner, owns a .900 save percentage and a 2.79 goals-against average (GAA) with the Jets through 36 starts this NHL season
Last year, Hellebuyck led the NHL in wins (47), shutouts (8) and GAA (2.00).
Starting in three of four total games at 4 Nations, including the championship against Canada, the 32-year-old netminder posted a .932 save percentage and a 1.59 GAA for Team USA.
Connor Hellebuyck will start Team USA's opener vs. Latvia. Getty Images
With the Bruins' Jeremy Swayman and Stars' Jake Oettinger serving as alternative options, Sullivan wouldn't exactly say if he was looking to get more goalies in the mix or if it was Hellebuyck's net to lose.
"I think the way we're going to approach it is, and this is just based on my own experience, that in tournaments like this — where things happen fast, they're not very long — performance really matters," Sullivan said. "And so, we're going to try to make decisions with every position that gives us the best chance to win."
