Hellebuyck’s back and the Jets are looking dangerous

To call it an arrival is an exaggeration.

How about an awakening?

That’s a far more apt description of the series of events that allowed the Winnipeg Jets to pull even in this best-of-seven Central Division battle with the Dallas Stars after a 4-0 triumph on Friday night before another sold-out crowd at Canada Life Centre.

The Jets checked off a couple of needs — a quicker start and crisper execution — that were two of the major themes from the debrief from Wednesday’s series-opening loss.

On this night, Connor Hellebuyck was doing Connor Hellebuyck things — which means he once again resembled the guy who is a lock for a third Vezina Trophy and is also up for his first Hart Trophy.

That Hellebuyck was able to build on his strong finish to Game 7 of the epic opening-round showdown with the St. Louis Blues was a promising sign for the Jets to begin with.

By elevating his play in Game 2 with 21 saves, and his first Stanley Cup playoff shutout since Game 2 in May 2021 against the Edmonton Oilers, Hellebuyck signalled that he’s shifted from turning to turned the corner.

As Hellebuyck spoke during his post-game scrum, there was further evidence of his reference to the weight that was lifted by advancing past the first round for the first time since 2021.

There was an easiness in his voice that matched the economy of movements you saw in his crease during most of the first 120 minutes of this series.

Hellebuyck’s reads look sharper, which allows him to combine his knack for anticipation with his sound fundamentals.

Although his numbers are going to require some further massaging as the playoffs move along, Hellebuyck’s ability to reset after the second period of the deciding game has been on full display.

By turning aside 45 of the first 48 shots on goal he’s faced in this series, Hellebuyck is rocking a 1.50 goals-against average and .938 save percentage — though it’s important to remember the sample size remains small, especially when you consider how volatile the position can be.

Hellebuyck talked about building his game back up better, and when he’s at his best, it can make life difficult for the opponent.

Speaking of which, Jets defenceman Josh Morrissey had his best game of these playoffs, which was even more impressive when you consider he was just four days removed from getting knocked out of Game 7 with a suspected shoulder injury in a series in which he was treated like a piñata by the Blues.

Morrissey was guarded when it came to revealing details of the ailment he’s been dealing with or the lengths he went to in his recovery to ensure he would be back for Game 2.

But he went out of his way to express gratitude for the opportunity to still be playing, something that wouldn’t have been possible if the Jets hadn’t rallied with two goals with the goalie pulled and the double overtime redirection winner by captain Adam Lowry.

In Friday’s game, Morrissey was delivering all over the ice and his impact was felt far beyond the traditional stats package.

Offensively, he recorded an assist, but his most important contributions came while joining the rush, moving the puck efficiently and defending well in just under 23 minutes of ice time.

Morrissey’s most impactful play came after Hellebuyck made his best save of the contest, pushing across to stop a one-timer from Evgenii Dadonov with 5:43 to go in the second period.

As great as the glove save was, Hellebuyck’s shutout bid would have gone out the window were it not for a spectacular defensive effort by Morrissey on Stars centre Wyatt Johnston, who thought he was going to be able to deposit the rebound into an open net.

Not only did Morrissey tie up Johnston well enough to win the one-on-one battle to prevent Johnston’s stick from finding the loose puck, the Jets alternate captain calmly pushed the puck out of harm’s way to complete the play.

As he so often does, Morrissey deferred credit on the play, citing the work of Hellebuyck instead.

“It’s a pretty high-danger opportunity. He made a great save, (I) was just trying to box out Johnston on the backside. In those moments it’s just desperation,” said Morrissey.

“Thankfully, we had Helly to make that save, and then like I said, just try and get it out of there as fast as possible.”

Morrissey’s moment was expanded on by Nikolaj Ehlers, who joined the Jets’ blue-liner at the podium after his team’s fifth victory in the postseason.

“He’s a guy that’s so calm with the puck,” said Ehlers. “On the power play goal (by Gabe Vilaradi to open the scoring), he lays it into me there under pressure. Plays physical as well. He makes saves, apparently.

“He’s a guy that does everything really well and has had a huge impact on us and has been great for us for the last many years. It’s great to have him back.”

Ehlers was back as well, using his blazing speed to have his most explosive offensive output of these playoffs.

Playing in just his fourth game as he works his way back from a lower-body issue, Ehlers chipped in two goals and an assist to go along with his seven shots on goal and 13 shot attempts.

Ehlers was here, he was there, and he was everywhere in this outing.

He was omnipresent.

Unlocking Ehlers makes the Jets even more dangerous to defend.

“Yeah, it’s nice to see him rewarded. Again, another guy to jump into the middle of a playoff series late in that last series,” said Jets head coach Scott Arniel.

“And to just have the opportunities that he’s had… I’m just really happy for him.

“He was dominant. He had the puck a lot. I liked the fact that he attacked the net a bunch of times with the puck. We need his line and we need him doing what he did. We’re a tougher threat when we have all of our pieces going like that.”

Keeping those pieces going is the next step in the process as the Jets try to get a leg up and win for the first time away from home in what will be the fourth opportunity to do so in these playoffs.

That opportunity comes on Sunday afternoon at American Airlines Center.

ken.wiebe@freepress.mb.ca

X and Bluesky: @WiebesWorld