Why Connor Hellebuyck isn't playing tonight for Jets after Olympics — and more

Why Connor Hellebuyck isn't playing tonight for Jets after Olympics originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Connor Hellebuyck is now officially a gold medalist.

The Team USA hero in goal made 41 saves in the gold medal game against Canada, only allowing one puck to cross the line.

Now, he's set to return to NHL action with the Winnipeg Jets. Well, almost.

Hellebuyck isn't playing on Wednesday night against the Vancouver Canucks.

MORE: Sidney Crosby breaks silence on injury, Olympics and rest of Penguins' season

Why isn't Connor Hellebuyck playing tonight?

Reports have indicated that Hellebuyck will meet the Jets in California, where they play the Anaheim Ducks on Friday night. This might've been the plan all along.

Hellebuyck is getting some extra rest.

He was in Washington, D.C. on Tuesday night, where he was presented the Presidential Medal of Freedom by U.S. President Donald Trump.

It's a rare honor that has only been given to 15 athletes.

Hellebuyck's play in net to stave off the Canadians and earn the gold medal apparently earned him that medal, too.

The Jets didn't want to rush him back and likely figured it made more sense to keep Hellebuyck fresh for the stretch run. They'll need to lean on him a lot, so a day or two more to recharge might be crucial in the long run.

More NHL news:

• Auston Matthews, Maple Leafs now forced to face tough reality
• Jack Hughes has forever changed his value
• Zach Werenski made 'the play before The Play'
• Connor Hellebuyck has changed his story forever
• Alex Ovechkin has shared an update on his retirement plans
• Evgeni Malkin gets big news on a possible future

Why Aaron Gordon isn't playing tonight for Nuggets with injury news originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Denver Nuggets are in a big spotlight game on Wednesday night.

They're taking on the Boston Celtics for a national TV audience on ESPN.

One problem: They don't have Aaron Gordon.

Really, they haven't had Gordon on the floor for a while.

Why isn't Aaron Gordon playing tonight?

Gordon is out on Wednesday against the Celtics because he's injured.

He last played on Jan. 23, when he left midway through a win over the Bucks.

Gordon is dealing with a hamstring injury.

MORE: Lakers have a very specific LeBron, Luka, Reaves problem

When is Aaron Gordon coming back?

Gordon still has a little while before he returns.

On Jan. 29, the Nuggets announced Gordon would be re-evaluated in 4-to-6 weeks.

Now with this matchup against the Celtics on Feb. 25, it's getting just about the time for the Nuggets to figure out what they're doing next with Gordon.

Nuggets coach David Adelman recently implied that he's hoping Gordon can return sometime next week

"Aaron's been great," Adelman told reporters on Tuesday. "He's understood the process. And I think you all understand how frustrating this has been for him. He sees us losing games that he could be a part of."

The sooner Gordon gets back, the better.

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COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Olivia Olson scored a career-high 31 points, including a driving jumper with 3.2 seconds remaining in overtime, to give No. 8 Michigan an 88-86 victory over 13th-ranked Ohio State on Wednesday night.

Ohio State's Chance Gray hit a 30-footer on the ensuing trip down the floor, but the senior did not get her shot off until after the buzzer.

Olson also had nine rebounds and four assists for Michigan (23-5, 14-3 Big Ten), which set a program record for conference wins.

The Wolverines scored the final 10 points after trailing 86-78 with 1:40 remaining. Michigan had three starters foul out but Macy Brown, who came in averaging 2.1 points, scored eight straight points, including a pair of 3-pointers, to tie it at 86.

Syla Swords scored 22, including four 3-pointers.

Ohio State's Jaloni Cambridge scored 22 points, including three free throws with 0.6 seconds remaining to send it into overtime,

Michigan had a 74-71 advantage with 2.2 seconds left when Brooke Quarles Daniels tried to inbound the ball. Ohio State’s Elsa Lemmila deflected the pass. Cambridge got the loose ball and was fouled by Daniels as she attempted a 3-pointer from the right corner.

Gray had 19 points and Lemmila scored 11 with 15 rebounds. The Buckeyes (23-6, 12-5) have dropped three of their last four.

Ohio State hit four 3-pointers in the first quarter as it ran out to a 28-14 lead. The Wolverines rallied back with an 18-4 run to tie it at 32 with 4:13 remaining in the first half.

Michigan trailed 40-39 at halftime, but opened the second half with an 11-3 run. A 3-pointer by Swords gave the Wolverines a 67-58 advantage early in the fourth quarter.

Up next

Michigan: Hosts No. 14 Maryland on Saturday.

Ohio State: At No. 15 Michigan State on Sunday.

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