Hellebuyck’s surprising turn has him up for Vezina

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This article was published 18/04/2018 (2705 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

ST. PAUL, Minn. — Last fall, Connor Hellebuyck wasn’t even considered the top goalie on his own team. Today, he’s one of the three premier puckstoppers in the NHL.

The Winnipeg Jets netminder was named Tuesday as one of three finalists for the Vezina Trophy, awarded to the NHL’s top goalie.

He’s up against Pekka Rinne of the Nashville Predators and Andrei Vasilevskiy of the Tampa Bay Lightning. The winner will be named at the 2018 NHL Awards June 20 Las Vegas.

Hellebuyck was a pillar of strength in Game 4 Tuesday night, stopping 30 shots in the Jets’ 2-0 win.

“It definitely added a little more hop to my step,” he said, when asked if the pre-game news provided some motivation. “I don’t know if it changed my game too much because I prepare the same way and I do the same things every day… I guess it’s just a nice milestone that me and my family will enjoy.”

The 24-year-old from Commerce, Mich., had a difficult time as the Jets’ starter during the 2016-17 NHL campaign. He rebounded this season, starting 64 games and posting a 44-11-9 record with six shutouts.

Hellebuyck’s 44 wins — tied with Vasilevskiy for most in the league — beat Tom Barrasso’s record (43) for most victories by a U.S-born goaltender.

He matched the NHL’s single-season record for home wins with 30, finished eighth in goals-against average (2.36) and 10th in save percentage (.924).

Creasemate Steve Mason has been impressed. The 10-year NHL goalie, signed last summer to be the Jets’ starter but relegated to backup duties with the emergence of Hellebuyck, said his partner has done it all this season.

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“He’s been rolling with the punches as they come. He’s handled himself really well. He’s been as consistent a goaltender throughout the league as anybody,” Mason said.

“All the credit to him… I think he’s definitely matured, and at the same time we have a really good team that gives him confidence as well. We have a strong leadership group that he can feed off and learn from. I didn’t know him before this season, but I’ve definitely been impressed with the way he’s gone about this year.”

Hellebuyck, selected in the fifth round (130th overall) in the 2012 NHL draft, participated in his first NHL all-star game in Tampa Bay in January and earned the NHL’s first star of the week in late December and a second-star nod in mid-January.

Rinne has three previous Vezina nominations (2010-11, 2011-12 and 2014-15), but has never won. He was third in the league with 42 wins for the Predators.

jason.bell@freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @WFPJasonBell