Connor Hellebuyck`s performance is poised to be the central narrative for the Winnipeg Jets throughout their playoff series against the Dallas Stars. Depending on how he plays, he will either be remembered as the elite goaltender he is during the regular season, or the struggling netminder whose playoff save percentage has been uncharacteristically low (.869), ranking him near the bottom among goalies with significant postseason appearances over the last three seasons.
The Jets managed to advance past the St. Louis Blues in a hard-fought first-round series, despite Hellebuyck recording a low .830 save percentage. However, he proved crucial in their Game 7 victory, stopping 24 of the final 25 shots he faced after allowing two early goals.
In the first two games of their second-round matchup against Dallas in Winnipeg, Hellebuyck showed significant improvement. He stopped 42 out of 45 shots overall and delivered his strongest performance yet with a 4-0 shutout victory in Game 2 on Friday. This surge in form presents a clear challenge for the Dallas Stars` offense, which will need to find ways to beat the increasingly confident goaltender.
