Jordan Binnington delivered when it mattered most against Czechia

At some point, you simply can’t argue with the results. Goaltender Jordan Binnington was one of the most controversial selections to the Canadian men’s hockey team for the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics. The St. Louis Blues‘ goalie has had a dismal first half to his NHL season, sporting an 8-17-6 record to go along with a .864 save percentage and a 3.65 goals-against average. Yet general manager Doug Armstrong, who also happens to be Binnington’s GM in St. Louis, named him to the team anyways, believing Binnington would be able to raise his game in the clutch like he did during the Blues’ 2019 Stanley Cup run and in last year’s 4 Nations Face-Off final against the United States.

In Wednesday’s Olympic quarterfinal against Czechia, Binnington proved Armstrong right. Binnington made a huge stop on a Martin Necas breakaway late in the third period to keep the score tied at three. Then, in sudden-death 3-on-3 overtime, he made a game-preserving save against Radim Simek, keeping Canada alive so that Mitch Marner could be the hero.

During the postgame show on Daily Faceoff, Jeff Marek and Tyler Yaremchuk discussed Binnington’s late-game efforts.

Tyler Yaremchuk: Let’s not gloss over the two big saves that Jordan Binnington did make. I get the argument that with an A+ goalie, a true Connor Hellebuyck-esque number one, maybe you actually just win that game 3-2 or 3-1 and it’s a non-conversation. But this is why they give Jordan Binnington the starts over Logan Thompson, who’s probably technically a more sound goalie who’s had a better year.

The double breakaway save on Necas was unbelievable, and then even in overtime to slide out as far as he did to take away that angle and kind of just take an all or nothing gamble on that stop. It defines Jordan Binnington and his swagger and his cocky attitude so well to have the stones to slide out that way. Because it the Czech player holds on for half a second, Binnington is three feet out of his crease with no hope in hell of making a save.

You can watch the full segment and entire show here…