The Winnipeg Jets are off to a 3-0-0 begin for the primary time in franchise historical past, and a serious motive for that’s Connor Hellebuyck.
The 31-year-old Hellebuyck, who leads the NHL with a .976 save share (81 saves on 83 pictures) this season, will make his five hundredth profession NHL begin on Hellebuyck Evening on Friday when the Jets host the San Jose Sharks.
The primary 5,000 followers coming into Canada Life Centre, which can embrace the 20 millionth fan to look at the Jets play on the enviornment, will obtain a memento Hellebuyck pennant. Additionally they will get to view the {hardware} Hellebuyck received final season — the Vezina Trophy, awarded to the highest goalie as voted by common managers, and the William M. Jennings Trophy, given to the goalie or goalies of the staff that enables the fewest targets within the season.
“I used to be eager about it (Wednesday evening) after I heard that the trophies are going to be on the town,” Hellebuyck informed the Winnipeg Solar on Thursday. “I wished to see them. I used to be considering that many individuals in all probability do not get an opportunity to the touch it. I received (the Vezina in 2020) and I did not get to the touch it the primary time.”
Hellebuyck accepted the 2020 award just about due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Nonetheless, he bought to place his arms on the 2024 Vezina in June when he accepted it in particular person on the NHL Awards in Las Vegas.
A fifth-round choose and the a hundred and thirtieth general choice within the 2012 draft, Hellebuyck is simply the twenty third goalie to win the Vezina on a number of events. He’s off to an excellent begin in a bid for a repeat, shutting out the Edmonton Oilers 6-0 on 30 saves within the season opener and following that up with back-to-back 2-1 extra time wins over the Chicago Blackhawks on Oct. 11 and the Minnesota Wild on Sunday.
Kyle Connor scored 51 seconds into extra time to beat the Wild, and Mark Scheifele had a aim and an help. Hellebuyck completed with 26 saves, and he has allowed two targets over 180:54 in three begins.
“We’re rising accustomed to him being so elite,” Winnipeg captain Adam Lowry mentioned. “Generally it is onerous to explain his stage of play, however on the identical time, we’re fairly fortunate that we get to witness his greatness on daily basis in observe and in addition what he is capable of do in video games.”
San Jose, winless in its first 4 video games, might be enjoying the second half of a back-to-back set that started with a 4-2 loss at Chicago on Thursday.
The Sharks fell behind 3-0 within the first 21 minutes earlier than Tyler Toffoli bought San Jose on the board late within the second interval with a tap-in of a cross by William Eklund. Jason Dickinson put the Blackhawks again up by three targets at 2:19 of the third interval earlier than Fabian Zetterlund completed the scoring with a deflection of Mikael Granlund’s shot.
Eklund and Granlund each completed with two assists. Toffoli has three targets within the first 4 video games of the season.
“I do not assume the entire evening was the best way we are able to play,” Granlund mentioned. “We will play approach higher. Clearly the beginning was actually gradual for us. It was a bit of bit higher as the sport went on, however on the identical time, that is not sufficient.”
San Jose coach Ryan Warsofsky was requested what his staff must do to select up its first win on Friday.
“We have got to do all the things higher tomorrow, that is for certain,” Warsofsky mentioned.
–Discipline Stage Media
