Hellebuyck gets first start in two weeks; in net against Blackhawks

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 26/01/2017 (3157 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

CHICAGO — Winnipeg goalie Connor Hellebuyck returns to the net tonight as the Jets go for their fourth straight victory over the Chicago Blackhawks — and try to snap a two-game losing streak.

Hellebuyck has been the backup for the club’s last six hockey games after getting pulled early in a pair of contests two weeks ago.

He was pulled in favour of Michael Hutchinson on Jan. 11 against Montreal after surrending three goals on seven shots to the Canadiens and then was replaced by Hutchinson two nights later after giving up three goals on just six shots to the Arizona Coyotes.

The Jets (22-25-4) lost both games and then dropped two more — an overtime decision to Los Angeles followed by a loss to San Jose. That skid resulted in the promotion of goalie Ondrej Pavelec from the AHL’s Manitoba Moose.

But Hellebuyck has allowed just two goals against the Blackhawks in three starts this season, including a 27-save shutout on Nov. 15 at MTS Centre.

Jets head coach Paul Maurice said he hopes to see a more confident Hellebuyck between the pipes when the puck drops at 7:30 p.m. at the United Center.

“It’s been a while, hopefully we can let him see some easy pucks first and get into a good rhythm,” he said. “(Previous success against a team) is not a concrete reason for a player to play, but he’s played well. He has a good feeling against this team, as good as any you can have going against Chicago. Confidence is a big part of what these guys do.”

Winnipeg defenceman Toby Enstrom fell backwards into the boards against the Sharks on Tuesday night and missed a portion of the game but he will play against Chicago, Maurice said.

The Jets split a recent four-game home stand, with wins over Arizona and St. Louis followed by losses to Anaheim and San Jose.

Rookie blue-liner Josh Morrissey said they’ll need a solid, 60-minute effort against the difficult Central Division opponent.

“The last few games we’ve played hard but have come up a little bit short. Obviously, they’ve got a strong team over there and we have to be ready,” he said. “You’re getting to that time of year, we’re obviously past the half-way point, and these points are starting to be really important, espcially divisional games and confidence games.

“We’ve played really hard and we need that same kind of effort, but find just a little big more, a little bit more execution, and find a way to get a big win here tonight.”

The Blackhawks (30-15-5) will try to rebound from a 5-2 loss to the visiting Tampa Bay Lightning on Tuesday.

Chicago coach Joel Quenneville said Winnipeg has definitely had his club’s number this season.

“We’ve got to do something about it here. Every game’s been kind of different but for whatever reason we haven’t played very well and they’ve had something to do with it,” he said. “We have to be harder to play against, find a way to get to the net and hang around the net and come up with some loose pucks.

“They’ve got some quickness up front, for sure, and they’ve got some big guys as well. But that shouldn’t slow you down to where you’re going and where you gotta be effective, going to the net, going to the puck areas.”

Chicago will go with goalie Scott Darling tonight.

jason.bell@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @WFPJasonBell