Hellebuyck all about winning Stats matter little to Jets’ supremely confident netminder By: Ken Wiebe Posted: 5:05 PM CDT Monday, Apr. 22, 2024

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 22/04/2024 (535 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Connor Hellebuyck called it one of the “most sweatiest games” he’s ever been a part of — and it had nothing to do with the temperature in the building.

Winnipeg Jets head coach Rick Bowness provided a quick explanation Monday of what his No.1 goalie meant.

“Well, we were what, over six-and-a-half-minutes in our zone. We’re normally down around four,” said Bowness, noting the Colorado Avalanche hemmed in the Jets more than they’re used to, putting additional heat on Hellebuyck.

“So, that’s why he’s a little sweaty. That would do it.”

A quick and cursory look at the stat line from Sunday’s 7-6 victory over the Avalanche in Game 1 of the best-of-seven opening-round series, would have left many observers raising an eyebrow and wondering what the goaltending was like.

When you look under the hood and dig in a bit more, one finds Hellebuyck did exactly what he’s done so many other times over the course of this latest Vezina-worthy season — and throughout his nine NHL campaigns.

Even if it looked like Hellebuyck had been transformed to the 1980s and was challenging his inner Grant Fuhr (with apologies to the fans of the Jets 1.0 era who were often haunted by the Edmonton Oilers’ future hall-of-famer.)

“I was feeling pretty good,” said Hellebuyck, who was seated in front of a 2024 Stanley Cup playoff banner in the Matt Frost Media Centre. “Felt like I had a really good game and when the results end up like that, I instantly know, I’ve been in this league long enough, it’s going to be, ‘I need to stop one more than the other guy.’ I turn my mindset to that.”

Game 2 is set for Tuesday (8:30 p.m. CT) before the series shifts to Denver for the next two tilts.

Hellebuyck prefers to avoid the podium when the playoffs begin, though that’s simply not possible when you’re one of the most important players in a series.

The star goalie of the Jets would rather block out the white noise surrounding himself and his team and just focus on his job, which is to keep the puck out of the net and give his team a chance to win.

Hellebuyck’s mindset has been the same since he was chosen in the fifth round of the 2012 NHL Draft from the Odessa Jackalopes of the NAHL and has been on display ever since.

That’s not to suggest there hasn’t been growth, as Hellebuyck’s commitment to the craft and maturity have allowed him to grow into a member of the leadership core.

Part of becoming one of — if not THE — best goalie in the NHL is his belief in himself, and that was on full display once again Monday.

“It’s the ones that I think I could’ve had, which I feel is almost every single one these days. I’m getting picky on myself. But those ones are actually easier to move on (from),” said Hellebuyck.

“There’s not much I can do and if you’re going to beat me, it’s going to be a fluke and that’s the way I like it. And a lot of times if I need to get past it, that’s something I’ll tell myself. ‘Oh, that one’s a fluke. That’s not happening again.’ So there are little tricks you learn along the way that help you tick and keep your mind right.”

For the sake of context, Hellebuyck was asked a question about being someone who relies on the process and if it was easier to move on from “unlucky” goals.

He’s also been rooted in the power of positivity and liking the details of his game and that confidence extends to his teammates, whether during good times or challenging ones.

“He has a tremendous amount of faith in his ability, and I love that about him,” said head coach Rick Bowness. “We just love that about him. He’s a great goalie. He is. He has that character and that belief in himself to back it up and the players know that. I remember Grant Fuhr, man he’d give up a bad goal, he’d give up three, and it wouldn’t bother him a bit.

“Connor is like that. If it’s a goal, it’s a goal. He’ll battle back, (it) doesn’t rattle him one bit. Doesn’t change the way he plays, doesn’t change the way he approaches it. He just keeps battling in there.”

The calm demeanour is the type of character trait that is also appreciated.

“Even when he allows, for lack of a better word, a bad goal in his eyes, he’s the type of guy that even if he gets beaten super clean or if it’s an open net or whatever it is, he’s like, ‘Oh man, I should have had that one.’ He’s got an amazing confidence,” said Jets defenceman Dylan DeMelo.

“He knows how good he is and he knows the type of goalie he is for us and how important a piece he is for our squad.”

Jets winger Tyler Toffoli was asked about what he’s learned about Hellebuyck since becoming his teammate. His thoughts immediately turned to Jonathan Quick, the guy who was between the pipes when Toffoli won the Stanley Cup as a rookie with the Los Angeles Kings.

“Very similar to Quicky in the sense that he just comes in and gets the job done and does his job, gets his recovery, gets his work in. That’s kind of all it is,” said Toffoli.

“He doesn’t need to be praised in a good way and doesn’t need to hear the negatives. That’s one thing I definitely notice and obviously Quicky’s a Hall of Famer and still getting it done today.”

“At the end of the day, did you win or did you not win?… at the end of the day, 16 wins win the Stanley Cup and that’s my goal.”– Connor Hellebuyck

Even after allowing six goals in a post-season contest for the first time in his NHL career, Hellebuyck’s numbers at even strength were still stellar since two of the goals allowed came on the power play, and another was on a crazy bounce during an extra-attacker situation for the Avalanche.

Hellebuyck saw no need whatsoever to lean on his .923 save percentage at five-on-five (36 saves on 39 shots on goal). He’s got much bigger things in mind.

“You can if you need to, but this time of year, who cares about stats, really? Stats are going to be something people look at, pick apart and talk about,” said Hellebuyck.

“At the end of the day, did you win or did you not win? We’re going to keep saying that over and over again and you guys are probably going to keep writing about the fine details. But at the end of the day, 16 wins win the Stanley Cup and that’s my goal. So, who really cares about everything else that goes with that?”

Certainly not Hellebuyck, and that’s a big part of what’s made him who he is today and why the Jets should hold the goaltending advantage in virtually any series they play this spring.

ken.wiebe@freepress.mb.ca

X: @WiebesWorld