WINNIPEG 鈥� It certainly looked like the Winnipeg Jets' Vezina-talented netminder was back in top form.
After admittedly struggling during the playoff series against the St. Louis Blues, Connor Hellebuyck was outstanding as he stopped 21 shots to backstop the Jets to a 4-0 victory over the Dallas Stars on Friday night.
It was Hellebuyck鈥檚 fourth playoff shutout and first since May 21, 2021. He believes he is back in the right rhythm.
"There were stretches in the first round where I really liked my game, just wasn鈥檛 in the results," said Hellebuyck. "But, built it back better. I like where we鈥檙e at.
"The team in front of me is playing phenomenal, so we鈥檙e going to have fun. Just continue to have fun.鈥�
Nikolaj Ehlers scored two goals 鈥� the second into an empty net on a clearing shot from in front of his net --- and an assist before a sold-out crowd of 15,225 at Canada Life Centre as Winnipeg tied the best-of-seven series 1-1.
Adam Lowry and Gabe Vilardi also scored for Winnipeg.
The Jets were dominant but Hellebuyck held the fort on some dangerous Dallas chances.
鈥淚t鈥檚 what he does every night for us,鈥� said Josh Morrissey, who assisted on Vilardi鈥檚 power-play goal early in the game. 鈥淗e鈥檚 an incredible goaltender.
"He makes very difficult saves look very easy, routinely and often. You could tell he was feeling it tonight."
Dallas coach Pete DeBoer was also impressed by Hellebuyck.
鈥淗e was good. I think we can always make it more difficult on him, but he was really good,鈥� he said.
鈥淵eah, he was fantastic,鈥� said Jets coach Scott Arniel. 鈥淪ometimes we take him for granted because he makes the hard look so easy. But, he had some acrobatic saves tonight.鈥�
Jake Oettinger stopped 22 shots for Dallas.
Winnipeg had taken a 2-0 lead into the second period when a shot by Ehlers deflected off Esa Lindell鈥檚 skate in front of the net past Oettinger for his first goal of the playoffs. In fact, it was his first playoff goal since May, 23, 2021 when he scored twice, including the overtime winner. It was his first playoff goal in 15 games.
鈥淵eah, it鈥檚 nice to see him get rewarded,鈥� Arniel said. 鈥淚鈥檓 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.鈥�
Dallas will host Game 3 on Sunday afternoon and the Jets have yet to win a road game during these playoffs.
鈥淲e鈥檙e playing our game (now) and we know what it looks like, and we know what it feels like,鈥� Hellebuyck said. 鈥淭hat being said, we鈥檝e got to wipe it and go play a hard road game. It鈥檚 never easy on the road, especially at playoff time.鈥�
Lowry had given Winnipeg a 3-0 lead midway through the second. The Jets captain pounced on the rebound of a Dylan DeMelo shot from the point that had bounced off the boards and fired the puck past a surprised Oettinger.
鈥淲e would have liked to get two (wins), obviously, but we have to look at the big picture,鈥� said Stars defenceman Cody Ceci. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a long series. It鈥檚 kind of what we expected against these guys 鈥� they鈥檙e a good team.
"Two (wins) would have been nice but we gotta look at the bright side, 1-1, and we鈥檙e going back to our building.鈥�
The Jets need to win at least one game in Dallas to re-take home-ice advantage.
鈥淚t鈥檚 going to be a tough building,鈥� Arniel said. 鈥淭hey grabbed home ice from us by winning Game 1, so we鈥檙e going to have to win down there.
鈥淲e know we have to do a lot of what we did tonight. This is a really good hockey team we鈥檙e going against.鈥�
NOTE: Hellebuyck became the sixth goaltender in NHL history to account for each of a franchise鈥檚 first four playoff shutouts. The previous five includes Georges Vezina (Montreal).
This report by The Canadian Press was first published on May 9, 2025
Jim Bender, The Canadian Press
