Hellebuyck bounces back big-time

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This article was published 04/12/2016 (3204 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

CHICAGO — It wouldn’t be an insult to suggest Winnipeg Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck needed a win.

After being pulled in the third period of 6-3 loss to the Edmonton Oilers Thursday, a game in which he allowed six goals on 29 shots, a victory over a the gifted Chicago Blackhawks Sunday at the United Center helped heal any remaining wounds.

“You can say ‘need it,’” said Hellebuyck. “I like every win being a need.”

He would get his wish, stopping 25 of 26 shots he faced to secure a 2-1 win. With the victory Hellebuyck improved to 10-9-0 on the year, with a 2.67 goals-against average and a .911 save percentage.

“Looked great,” was how he described the win. “I think we really found our game and did the simple things tonight.”

Hellebuyck wasn’t all that busy, facing just three shots in the first period and only 13 after 40 minutes.

“I’m sitting there just asking for one,” said Hellebuyck. “When your players are doing that it’s a great feeling back there and just helps you build the confidence in your team.”

He would eventually get his wish in the third period as the Blackhawks began to press, looking to even the score. They eventually would with a nice passing play between forwards Patrick Kane and Artemi Panarin, with Panarin scoring his 10th of the season to make it a 1-1 game at the 13:06 mark of the third.

Things only got tougher for the 23-year-old netminder after the Jets took the lead shortly after with a goal from Andrew Copp. The intensity went to a whole new level after Jacob Trouba put the Jets down a man with a four-minute high-sticking penalty with 2:26 left in the game.

That cued the chaos in front of Hellebuyck, as Chicago pulled their goalie for an extra attacker and put together an attack that had the Jets scrambling desperately in front of their net.

“They’re doing everything,” he said. “They were battling extremely hard and when guys are laying out to block a shot on the PK with two minutes left you know they’ve really bought into the system and they really want it.”

— Jeff Hamilton