Analysis: The NHL playoffs are off to an odd start, from the net out
The greatest goal-scorer of this generation was held without a point for the first time in a series in his nearly two-decade NHL careerAPRIL 29 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
CONNOR HELLEBUYCK #37 - GOALTENDER - WINNIPEG JETS
2.20 GAA •
398 SV •
92.30% SV%
2.20 GAA
398 SV
92.30% SV%
Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck named finalist for Vezina Trophy | Winnipeg Jets WINNIPEG, April 29, 2024 - The Winnipeg Jets Hockey Club, in conjunction with the National Hockey League, announced that Winnipeg Jets goalt...
APRIL 29 • NHL.COM
Three consecutive losses Hellebuyck gave up four goals on 30 shots in Sunday's 5-1 loss to the Avalanche. The fifth goal was an empty-netter.
Impact Hellebuyck allowed all four goals in the first two periods, including two on the power play. He has now allowed 19 goals on 131 shots and has not topped a .900 save percentage in any game in the first round. In order for the Jets to make a comeback in the series, they need Hellebuyck to get back to his Vezina-calibre ways for the remaining games. Winnipeg will host Colorado on Tuesday.
APRIL 28 • ROTOWIRE
Nichushkin records 1st career hat trick, Avalanche beat Jets 5-1 in Game 4 to take 3-1 series lead
Valeri Nichushkin recorded his first career hat trick, Alexandar Georgiev turned in another strong showing and the Avalanche beat the Winnipeg Jets 5-1 in Game 4 on Sunday to move...APRIL 28 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Guarding goal in Game 4 Hellebuyck will guard the road goal in Game 4 versus Colorado on Sunday, per Tracey Myers of NHL.com.
Impact Hellebuyck has surrendered 15 goals on 116 shots for an .871 save percentage in three playoff outings versus the Avalanche. He has lost his last two starts after winning the series opener. The Jets need a victory in Sunday's contest to take home-ice advantage back ahead of Tuesday's Game 5.
APRIL 28 • ROTOWIRE
Falters again in Game 3 Hellebuyck allowed five goals on 39 shots in Friday's 6-2 loss to the Avalanche in Game 3. The sixth goal was an empty-netter.
Impact Hellebuyck has now surrendered 15 goals on 116 shots over the last three games. The 30-year-old will need to get his game back to his regular-season form soon if the Jets are going to fend off the Avalanche, who now lead the series 2-1. There's little reason to think Hellebuyck won't get the chance to play out of his slump, so expect him between the pipes for Game 4 on Sunday.
APRIL 27 • ROTOWIRE
Between pipes Friday Hellebuyck will defend the road crease in Colorado on Friday, Mitchell Clinton of the Jets' official site reports.
Impact Hellebuyck has struggled in the opening two games of the series, despite going 1-1, as he has allowed 10 goals on 77 shots. Tuesday's 5-2 loss to Colorado snapped Hellebuyck's six-game winning streak. He was 37-19-4 with a 2.39 GAA and a .921 save percentage in 60 regular-season appearances. The Avalanche have had no problem finding the back of the net thus far, and will hope to continue the trend as the series shifts to Colorado for Games 3 and 4.
APRIL 26 • ROTOWIRE
Avalanche goalie Alexandar Georgiev hoping confidence boost carries into Game 3 against Jets
Alexandar Georgiev got out of his own way in order to get out of his own headAPRIL 25 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Loses Game 2 Hellebuyck allowed four goals on 31 shots in Tuesday's 5-2 loss to the Avalanche in Game 2.
Impact Hellebuyck's six-game winning streak came to an end Tuesday, resulting in the first-round playoff series being tied at 1-1 with Games 3 and 4 ahead in Denver. The 30-year-old has allowed 10 goals on 77 shots so far against the Avalanche, so he'll need to tighten things up on the road to keep the Jets competitive. The two teams meet again Friday.
APRIL 24 • ROTOWIRE
Connor Hellebuyck's Puck-Handling Miscue Leads To Avalanche Goal
APRIL 24 • YOUTUBE
Set to start Tuesday Hellebucyk is slated to be between the home pipes for Game 2 against the Avalanche on Tuesday, Mitchell Clinton of the Jets' official site reports.
Impact Hellebuyck is riding a six-game winning streak, which includes a crucial Game 1 win despite giving up six goals on 46 shots (.870 save percentage). Considering the 30-year-old goalie is the heavy favorite to take home the Vezina Trophy as the league's top netminder, there is little chance of him being dropped from the starting role as long as the Jets are in the playoffs.
APRIL 23 • ROTOWIRE
Survives high-scoring Game 1 Hellebuyck stopped 40 of 46 shots in Sunday's 7-6 win over the Avalanche in Game 1.
Impact Hellebuyck was twice as busy as his Colorado counterpart Alexandar Georgiev, but the Jets' offense was more opportunistic. Hellebuyck allowed four or more goals in just 10 of his 60 regular-season appearances, posting a 2.39 GAA and a .921 save percentage in a Vezina-caliber campaign. The 30-year-old will need more stability from his defense to avoid turning every game into a track meet versus the Avalanche. Game 2 is Tuesday in Winnipeg.
APRIL 22 • ROTOWIRE
Set to start Game 1 Hellebuyck will patrol the home crease Sunday in Game 1 versus Colorado, per Mitchell Clinton of the Jets' official site.
Impact Hellebuyck concluded the regular season with a .938 save percentage during his five-game winning streak. In 60 appearances during the 2023-24 campaign, he posted a 37-19-4 record with five shutouts, a 2.39 GAA and a .921 save percentage. Hellebuyck also stopped 92 of 96 shots against the Avalanche en route to a mark of 3-0-0. The Avalanche finished first in the regular season with 3.68 goals per game.
APRIL 21 • ROTOWIRE
Sitting Thursday Hellebuyck (rest) will sit out Thursday's regular-season finale at home against Vancouver, per Mike McIntyre of the Winnipeg Free Press.
Impact Hellebuyck was solid in his last start, stopping 20 of 23 shots in Tuesday's 4-3 win over Seattle. The 30-year-old had a spectacular regular season, recording a .921 save percentage and a 37-19-4 record in 60 appearances. He can be penciled in as the starter for Game 1 of Winnipeg's first-round series versus Colorado.
APRIL 18 • ROTOWIRE
Wins over Kraken Hellebuyck stopped 20 of 23 shots in Tuesday's 4-3 win over the Kraken.
Impact Hellebuyck has won five games in a row, allowing a total of 10 goals in that span. The Kraken kept it close throughout, but the Jets' offense was just good enough. Hellebuyck improved to 37-19-4 with a 2.39 GAA and a .921 save percentage. The Jets haven't announced their plans, but they are locked into second place in the Central Division, so Laurent Brossoit may get the nod versus the Canucks on Thursday if head coach Rick Bowness thinks Hellebuyck would benefit from some rest.
APRIL 17 • ROTOWIRE
Guarding goal Tuesday Hellebuyck will patrol the home crease Tuesday against Seattle, per Mike McIntyre of the Winnipeg Free Press.
Impact Hellebuyck has stopped 131 of 138 shots during his four-game winning streak. He has a 36-19-4 record this season with a 2.38 GAA and a .922 save percentage through 59 appearances. The Kraken sit 29th in the league this campaign with 2.59 goals per contest.
APRIL 15 • ROTOWIRE
Blanks Avs for big win Hellebuyck turned aside all 30 shots he faced in Saturday's 7-0 win over the Avalanche.
Impact The Jets scored four times in the first period alone, and Hellebuyck took care of the rest to get the team one step closer to locking up the No. 2 seed in the Central Division. The shutout was the fifth of the season for the 30-year-old goalie, while the victory's was his fourth straight. Hellebuyck's 36 wins put him one back of the career high he set in 2022-23, and he remains the odds-on favorite to take home his second Vezina Trophy, sitting third in GAA (2.38) and first in save percentage (.922).
APRIL 14 • ROTOWIRE
Starting in Colorado Hellebuyck will guard the road goal versus the Avalanche on Saturday, Ken Wiebe of The Winnipeg Free Press reports.
Impact Hellebuyck has been fantastic over the past week, going 3-0-0 while posting an admirable 2.31 GAA and .935 save percentage. He'll try to secure his 36th victory of the season in a brutal road matchup with a Colorado team that's gone an eye-popping 30-8-1 at home this year.
APRIL 12 • ROTOWIRE
Makes 45 saves in OT win Hellebuyck stopped 45 of 48 shots in Tuesday's 4-3 overtime victory over the Predators.
Impact Hellebuyck was stellar Tuesday, allowing just one goal on 36 shots through the first two periods. However, Nashville broke through with a pair of goals in the third to force overtime before Kyle Connor scored the game-winner in the extra frame, giving Hellebuyck a third straight win -- he's allowed six goals on 108 shots in that span. Overall, the 30-year-old netminder is 35-19-4 with a .920 save percentage and 2.42 GAA on the season. The Jets are back in action Thursday on the road in Dallas.
APRIL 10 • ROTOWIRE
Michigan Men Lead Jets to Overtime Victory!
APRIL 10 • YOUTUBE
Starting Tuesday Hellebuyck will start Tuesday on the road against Nashville, per Ken Wiebe of The Winnipeg Free Press.
Impact Hellebuyck stopped 25 of 27 shots in his last start against Minnesota on Saturday in a 4-2 win. The 30-year-old has been exceptional this season, recording a .920 save percentage and a 19-4-4 record in 57 starts. He will a tough matchup against Nashville who's trying to solidify a playoff spot.
APRIL 9 • ROTOWIRE
Vezina Trophy candidates breakdown: Connor Hellebuyck leads an impressive group A deeper look at the NHL's best goaltenders for the 2023-24 season.
APRIL 8 • THEATHLETIC.COM
Class of his own Hellebuyck made 25 saves in a 4-2 win over Minnesota on Saturday.
Impact Kirill Kaprizov beat him twice, but that was it. Hellebuyck is the heart of the Jets and in a class of his own in the NHL. His 2.41 GAA is third-best and .920 save percentage second-best among qualified netminders this season. And with the postseason approaching, Hellebuyck is poised to pass Georges Vezina as the only goalie in NHL history to claim each of his franchise's first 18+ playoff wins. In fact, he's one of just four goalies in NHL history with all of a franchise's (Jets/Thrashers) postseason victories.
APRIL 7 • ROTOWIRE
Slated to start Hellebuyck will defend the visiting goal versus Minnesota on Saturday.
Impact Hellebuyck snapped a five-game losing streak Thursday, turning aside 31 shots in a 5-2 win over Calgary. Hellebuyck is having an outstanding season, as he is 33-19-4 with four shutouts, a 2.42 GAA and a .920 save percentage. Minnesota are tied for 21st in NHL scoring, finding the back of the net on 229 occasions.
APRIL 6 • ROTOWIRE
Sharp in Thursday's win Hellebuyck stopped 31 of 33 shots in Thursday's 5-2 win over the Flames.
Impact Hellebuyck ended his personal five-game losing streak with a strong showing that clinched a playoff spot for the Jets. The 30-year-old has had few slumps this season, which makes his recent cold spell all the more surprising. Overall, he's at 33-19-4 with a 2.42 GAA and a .920 save percentage over 56 starts. The Jets still have positioning to play for over the last two weeks of the regular season, but it wouldn't be surprising to see Hellebuyck get a little rest, which would allow Laurent Brossoit to get some additional playing time. The Jets begin a four-game road trip Saturday in Minnesota.
APRIL 5 • ROTOWIRE
