Hellebuyck helps Jets’ snap skid

When Connor Hellebuyck led his team out of the tunnel for the pre-game warmup on Saturday night, there was an unmistakable injection of confidence and belief.

By the time the final buzzer sounded at Canada Life Centre, Hellebuyck made 24 saves and restored a sense of order in the Winnipeg Jets 5-1 victory over the Washington Capitals.

For a team that had just five wins in its previous 18 games (5-12-1), the Jets transformed into a responsible defensive team that suddenly had no issues with secondary scoring or special teams as they improved to 15-15-1.

The Jets, who celebrated the 1,000th NHL game for forward Nino Niederreiter prior to puck drop, close out a four-game homestand on Monday against the Ottawa Senators.