Photo Credit: Colby Spence
Last night Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck made 31 saves in the win over the Calgary Flames, picked up 1st Star of the game honours and helped his team improve to 51-20-10 on the season. Of those 51 wins the product of Commerce Township, Michigan has earned 43 of them. By securing win #43 he has tied former Penguins netminder Tom Barrasso for most wins by a U.S. born goalie.
The Jets have one more regular season game left and coach Paul Maurice was asked prior to the start of the game against the Flame whether Hellebuyck would have the option to play the final two contests to tie (if he won) and then break the record. “It is completely up to him” suggesting that as a result of their schedule (starts at 7:20 mark) the team has been able to afford Hellebuyck sufficient rest in the back half of their schedule to allow his netminder to pick and choose what starts he needs.
In the post-game scrum Hellebuyck said this with respect to wanting to play tomorrow night against Chicago and to set the record for most wins by a U.S. born goalie “Yes, because we’re tied, right, with Tom Barrasso? We need one more (win),”. Of course the Jets netminder also said he wants to play because it will help keep him in a rhythm (starts at 1:20 mark) for the start of playoffs next week.
While the talk for the Vezina this season around the NHL seems to favour the Predators Pekka Rinne or Andrei Vasilevskiy of the Lightning, Connor Hellebuyck will likely earn himself some votes with his play this season.
Looking at some of his numbers via Hockey Reference:
Games played: Tied for 1st (66)
Wins: Tied for 1st (43)
OT/SO Losses: Tied for 1st (9)
Shots against: 3rd (2017)
Saves: 3rd (1862)
Save percentage: Tied for 9th (.923)
Goals Against Average: 9th (2.38)
Shutouts: 3rd (6)
Minutes: 2nd (3906)
Goals Saved Above Average: 5th (22)
It has been quite the season for the Jets goalie who will be an RFA after this season and has earned himself quite the pay raise (as well as long term contract).
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