Connor Hellebuyck generally doesn’t talk to the media right after a loss. He broke that tradition on May 13, after being on the receiving end of a hat-trick by Mikael Granlund. “I leave it all out there every night. I do my best, and you know, sometimes it’s a heartbreak,” the Winnipeg Jets goalie said with a tinge of disappointment in his tone. The Vezina Trophy contender knew the Jets’ season would be over if he didn’t step up in Game 5.
Yet, Hellebuyck’s unimpressive playoff performance for the last few years stood like an insurmountable peak. Thankfully, for the Winnipeg Jets, the then 3-1 series leaders, Dallas, would have to travel to Winnipeg for Game 5. While the 31-year-old’s away performances have been questionable at best and dismal at worst, home ice brings out something in the NHL goalie. And that’s exactly what happened at the Canada Life Center.
“That’s back-to-back home shutouts for Connor Hellebuyck!” the official NHL handle posted on X. Connor Hellebuyck knew his team won’t get another chance and played like it was do or die on the ice. Those efforts paid off as the Winnipeg Jets sent Dallas packing with a 4-0 shutout win. The 2025 William M. Jennings Trophy winner played a nearly flawless game. But fans are still on the fence.
Hellebuyck got beaten only once. Stars center Tyler Seguin failed to equalize when the Jets had a one-goal lead after hitting the post. That was the only shot that went past the 31-year-old in Game 5. The goalie blocked 25 shots on ice, earning a perfect 1.000 save percentage. Despite losing three games against Dallas in this series, Game 5 showcased Hellebuyck’s consistency at home.
That’s back-to-back home shutouts for Connor Hellebuyck! #StanleyCup pic.twitter.com/MTEjtLUJxi
— NHL (@NHL) May 16, 2025
Before Game 5, the Jets won one game against Dallas, and that one was only on home ice. Connor Hellebuyck made 21 saves to blank the Dallas offense, with the Jets scoring 4 goals. Although the Jets’ netminder is 6-6 (W-L) after 12 games, his performance on home ice is nothing short of legendary. “Connor Hellebuyck extends his home shutout streak to 143:22,” Sportsnet revealed after the game. So, with the Jets and their goalie carrying the momentum into Game 6, why are the fans still doubting Hellebuyck?
Can Connor Hellebuyck make the lightning strike twice?
The Jets goalie has stellar stats on home ice. But the situation is quite different when the goalie played outside the Canada Life Center during the playoffs. And that has Winnipeg Jets fans worried. “Unfortunately for Jets fans, he cannot track the puck in any other arena,” commented one NHL fan who didn’t think Hellebuyck would maintain this form in the next game. Another fan was similarly skeptical.
“The word home is doing some heavy lifting in that sentence there,” the Winnipeg Jets faithful commented. This might sound harsh, especially after a 4-0 shutout loss, where Connor Hellebuyck showed up just when his team needed him the most. Unfortunately, the goalie’s troubled playoff history still has fans doubting his consistency. And they are not wrong.
After all, the 31-year-old has a 50-50 win-loss record in this playoff run. His previous two playoff runs were even worse. The former Vezina Trophy winner could only muster a 1-5 playoff record in 2023 and 2024. Naturally, the fans can’t trust which version of Hellebuyck they’ll get in Game 6. Even the optimistic fans couldn’t shed their doubts.
NHL, Eishockey Herren, USA Stanley Cup Playoffs-Winnipeg Jets at Dallas Stars May 11, 2025 Dallas, Texas, USA Dallas Stars right wing Mikko Rantanen 96 celebrates scoring a goal as Winnipeg Jets left wing Kyle Connor 81 looks on during the third period in game three of the second round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs at American Airlines Center. Dallas American Airlines Center Texas USA, EDITORIAL USE ONLY PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY Copyright: xJeromexMironx 20250511_jpm_an4_M25006
“Too bad he’ll be lit up 700 times on Saturday… (pls lemme be wrong),” commented one hesitant Jets fan. Looking back, Connor Hellebuyck has indeed been lit up multiple times in this year’s playoffs alone. While the Jets beat the Blues in Round 1, the goaltender conceded 27 goals. Quite the contrast for the goalie who conceded the fewest goals during the 2024-25 regular season.
No wonder some fans resorted to straight-up sarcasm. “At home: Vezna winner. On the road: Swiss cheese,” commented one fan. “Nice! Share his road save% % next…” taunted another. How much is the Michigan native’s lowest away SV%, you ask? Well, it’s an uninspiring .722 against the April 27 series, one game against the Blues. What’s more? While Hellebuyck and Co. certainly have the momentum, the pressure is on.
The Dallas Stars still hold the series lead at 3-2, meaning the Jets are still one game away from elimination. While Connor Hellebuyck has two shutout wins against Dallas, he has also conceded two hat-tricks in this series. Finally, the Jets’ goalie wasn’t the only one who played an almost flawless game; the entire roster did.
The Jets shut down Dallas’ offense, while their offensive line kept Jake Ottinger very busy. In fact, despite conceding three goals (the final Jets goal was an empty netter), Ottinger ended the night with a .914 SV%, saving 31 shots on target. So it’s safe to say that Game 6 in Dallas will be another huge challenge for the Winnipeg Jets.
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