Hellebuyck on verge of joining exclusive club

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This article was published 30/12/2024 (281 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Connor Hellebuyck is on the cusp of joining an exclusive hockey club.

The two-time Vezina Trophy winner recorded his 299th career win — and his 42nd career shutout — on Monday night against the Nashville Predators with the Jets 3-0 victory.

One more triumph and the 130th-overall pick from the 2012 draft will become the 30th masked man in NHL history to have at least 300 under his belt in addition to at least 40 clean sheets.

“That’s definitely one of the milestones you’re going for. Three hundred wins, 40 shutouts and 500 games played. Two of them down, one to go,” Hellebuyck told the Free Press, while being careful not to count his proverbial chickens before they hatch.

“I don’t what to jinx anything. I don’t believe in jinxes but let’s let it happen and enjoy the moment then.”

Fair enough. That could come as early as Thursday when the Jets open an eight-game homestand by facing the Anaheim Ducks at Canada Life Centre.

Hellebuyck will return to the net that night, as backup goaltender Eric Comrie is expected to make his ninth start of the season today in Denver when the Jets ring in the new year by facing the Colorado Avalanche in the second half of a back-to-back.

Hellebuyck is well on his way to earning a third trinket as the best goaltender in the league over the course of the regular season. His numbers so far this year are absurd — a 24-5-1 record, a sizzling 2.00 goals-against-average and an eye-popping .930 save percentage. All of those marks are tops in the league, and by quite a margin

“I’m having a lot of fun,” Hellebuyck said following his latest 22-save effort, which gives him five shutouts this year and more than half a season left to play. His career-high is six, set on two occasions (2017-18 and 2019-20).

“Everyone played fantastic and bought into our details and played great. It’s fun to be in this locker room and play behind this group of guys.”

If you’re just looking at wins, Hellebuyck’s next one will make him the 41st goaltender to hit the 300 mark. Hall of Famer Martin Brodeur tops them all with 691, while Marc-Andre Fleury of the Minnesota Wild is second all-time with 567 (and counting).

In terms of active players, only Fleury, Sergei Bobrovsky of the Florida Panthers, Jonathan Quick of the New York Rangers and Andrei Vasilevskiy of the Tampa Bay Lightning are ahead of Hellebuyck.

Who knows how high on the list he could end up, considering this is just the first year of a seven-year contract extension. There’s no question the Michigan product believes the best is still to come, with the ultimate goal of a Stanley Cup driving him more than anything.

“Winning is so much more fun in this league. You can really get into good rhythms and enjoy coming into the rink every day,” said Hellebuyck.

“Just knowing you’re going to give it your all every day and that the guy next to you is going to do the same, that’s what you dream to be a part of.”

As an example, he cited a very painful sliding block of a Roman Josi slapshot from veteran forward Vlad Namestnikov in the third period Monday which helped preserve the shutout.

“That’s why it’s so fun in this locker room. Everyone’s paying the price and everyone’s digging in,” said Hellebuyck.

He’s also enjoying not having to try to stop the likes of Mark Scheifele, Kyle Connor, Gabe Vilardi, Nikolaj Ehlers and Josh Morrissey on Winnipeg’s potent, league-leading power play which struck for two goals against the Predators to pave the way to victory.

“Those guys are incredible, aren’t they? It is fun watching. I’m going to keep saying it. It’s fun to play right now and it’s fun to watch,” he said.

mike.mcintyre@freepress.mb.ca

X and Bluesky: @mikemcintyrewpg