What a season – and postseason it is turning out to be for Connor Hellebuyck.
The netminder turned aside 30 shots on goal for his first NHL career postseason shutout, and the first in Winnipeg Jets franchise history, fresh off being announced as a finalist for the 2017-18 Vezina Trophy. The nod for “goalkeeper adjudged to be the best at his position" is also a franchise first in Jets/Atlanta Thrashers history.
His performance becomes even more formidable when factoring in that the Dearborn, Michigan-native was pulled from Sunday's Game 3 after allowing six goals on 22 shots in a 6-2 loss.
"Anytime you get scored on, you get better from it," Hellebuyck said of his performance postgame. "We went back and prepared the same way. There's no differences in my game, no matter if I give up 10 or pitch a shutout."
The 2-0 victory gave the Jets a stranglehold on the 3-1 series which heads back to Winnipeg Friday, for what is sure to be another 'whiteout'.
Hellebuyck's campaign has been riddled with franchise records. He closed the regular season with nine consecutive wins (March 15 – April 7) among his 44 overall on the season for another franchise-best. In helping Winnipeg to their best season (52 win), he matched a single-season NHL record for home wins (30) and posted six shutouts while towing a 2.36 goals-against average and .924 save percentage.
The future is looking bright for the 24-year-old.