What do you do when your star goalie, a Vezina Trophy finalist and Hart Trophy candidate, is struggling so badly it’s got NHL legends tweeting? Still, it’s another puzzling turn of events for Connor Hellebuyck, who’s a finalist again for the Vezina Trophy and received enough votes from the Professional Hockey Writers Association to be a finalist for the Hart Trophy as MVP to his team. He had 47 wins in the regular season, but that form hasn’t been evident in the playoffs, especially on the road. After a brutal Game 6 in St. Louis, where Hellebuyck was yanked in the third period, giving up five goals on shots, the doubters were loud.

Hellebuyck’s playoff run in St. Louis was a rough ride. He was pulled for the third time in three games as Jets coach Scott Arniel swapped him for backup Eric Comrie in the third period of Game 7 after Hellebuyck gave up four goals in the second period and five goals on 23 shots. The numbers tell a grim story: six goals allowed in Game 3, five in Game 4, and another five in Game 6. He was yanked each time and only managed a save percentage above .900 in one home game. Once a playoff rock, Hellebuyck’s struggles started in 2023 with an .886 save percentage. Last season, despite winning the Vezina, the Colorado Avalanche torched him, leaving him with a 5.23 goals-against average and an .864 save percentage.

Retired NHL goalie Andrew Raycroft didn’t hold back, tweeting, “I played a bunch of shitty games in the NHL but this Hellebuyck situation is bananas.” Ouch. But Hellebuyck and Jets coach Scott Arniel, alongside goalie coach Wade Flaherty, weren’t about to let that define their playoff run. In a heart-pounding 4-3 double-overtime win against the St. Louis Blues, Hellebuyck flipped the script. Shaky start? Sure. But he locked it down, stopping all 13 shots in the third period and both overtime frames. That’s clutch.

This wasn’t just any game—it was an instant-classic Game 7. And for Hellebuyck, it was personal. Just 73 days earlier, he faced off against Blues’ Jordan Binnington in a #4Nations Face-Off overtime battle. Tonight, Hellebuyck got the last word, outdueling Binnington and proving the doubters wrong with a performance that screamed redemption. The Jets move on, and Hellebuyck’s back in the spotlight—for all the right reasons.

With this thrilling Game 7 victory, the Jets now advance to the Western Conference Second Round, where they’ll take on the Dallas Stars starting Wednesday back home in Winnipeg. Hellebuyck’s redemption sets the stage for a high-stakes showdown, and the Jets are riding high on momentum.

Connor Hellebuyck and the Jets host the Dallas Stars in Round 2 of the Playoffs

Get ready, hockey fans, because the Winnipeg Jets are gearing up to face the Dallas Stars in what promises to be an electrifying Western Conference Second Round showdown! The Jets, fresh off clinching the Presidents’ Trophy for the NHL’s best regular-season record, are hosting the Stars, the No. 2 seed from the Central Division. This is the first time these two teams have met in the playoffs, and the stage is set for a thrilling series.

During the regular season, the Jets had the upper hand, going 3-1-0 against Dallas. Leading the charge was Connor, who racked up an impressive five points (four goals, one assist) in those four games. Scheifele was a playmaking machine, dishing out five assists, while goaltender Hellebuyck was a brick wall, posting a 3-1-0 record with a jaw-dropping 1.01 GAA, a .965 save percentage, and even a shutout. It’s safe to say Hellebuyck’s been a nightmare for the Stars’ offence, which managed just five goals total in the season series.

On the Dallas side, things didn’t go as smoothly against Winnipeg. The Stars struggled to find the net, with Mason Marchment and Hintz each scoring twice and Harley contributing three assists. Goaltender Oettinger had a tough time, starting all four games with a 1-3-0 record, a 3.73 GAA, and an .869 save percentage. DeSmith stepped in for one relief appearance, stopping 10 shots, but the Stars couldn’t quite crack the Jets’ defense.

Both teams are no strangers to deep playoff runs. The Jets last reached the Western Conference Final in 2018, and they’re hungry to get back there. Meanwhile, the Stars have been a force, making it to the conference final in each of the last two seasons, though they fell to the Edmonton Oilers in six games last year. With Winnipeg’s home-ice advantage and Dallas looking to flip the script from their regular-season struggles, this series is shaping up to be a battle of wills. Buckle up, because Connor, Hellebuyck, and the Jets are ready to take on the Stars in what’s sure to be a playoff classic!