Driedger, Anderson-Dolan join Jets for western swing

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This article was published 01/04/2025 (186 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The accolades keep coming in for Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck.

He was named the NHL’s third star of the week Monday after a pair of games in which he went 2-0-0 and surrendered just one goal while making 47 saves.

Hellebuyck, 31, currently leads all goaltenders in wins (43), shutouts (7), goals-against-average (2.01) and save-percentage (.925) and is aiming to become the third netminder in NHL history to finish a year on top of all those categories.

The two-time Vezina Trophy winner is certain to add a third to his mantle this year and is now viewed as one of the favourites, along with Edmonton Oilers centre Leon Draisaitl, to win the Hart Trophy as league MVP.

Hellebuyck has now been selected as one of the NHL’s stars of the week four times this year and eight times in his career. His next victory will match his own franchise record in a season, and he is just five away from tying the all-time mark for a goaltender in one year.

Tampa Bay Lightning winger Nikita Kucherov and Dallas Stars centre Roope Hintz were the other stars of the week.

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The Jets recalled goaltender Chris Driedger from the Manitoba Moose on Monday to serve as Hellebuyck’s backup as a three-game road trip begins tonight in Los Angeles.

That’s because the regular No. 2 man, Eric Comrie, is back in Winnipeg with his wife, who went into labour this weekend.

Driedger, 30, was acquired by the Jets earlier this month from the Florida Panthers in exchange for Kaapo Kahkonen. The Winnipeg product has appeared in 67 NHL games while spending the majority of his career in the AHL. He’s made five appearances with the Moose, going 1-3-0 with a 3.30 GAA and .872 save-percentage so far.

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Winnipeg also brought forward Jaret Anderson-Dolan up from the Moose to serve as the club’s extra forward while they are far away from home this week.

With Gabe Vilardi (upper-body, week-to-week) and Rasmus Kupari (concussion protocol) both sidelined, the Jets didn’t have any extra healthy bodies up front.

Anderson-Dolan was signed as a free agent last summer but has yet to appear in a game with Winnipeg. He’s skated in 51 games with the Moose, recording seven goals and 12 assists. Anderson-Dolan does have 127 NHL games on his resumé, all but one of them with the Kings who drafted him 41st-overall in 2017.

— staff with Canadian Press files