Connor Hellebuyck is going through a difficult stretch in road games.
The Winnipeg Jets goaltender was removed from the game early in the third period after allowing the fifth goal to the St. Louis Blues in Game 4 on Sunday.
For the second consecutive game, Eric Comrie came in to replace Hellebuyck.
Game 4 marked Hellebuyck`s sixth consecutive road playoff game where he allowed opponents to score at least four goals, placing him among only seven goaltenders in NHL history with this dubious achievement.
In the regular season, Hellebuyck played exceptionally well: he had the league`s best goals-against average (2.00), eight shutouts, and the second-best save percentage (0.925), likely earning him a third Vezina Trophy. However, in Sunday`s game, the 31-year-old goaltender posted a 3.53 GAA and a 0.844 save percentage, including six goals allowed in Game 3.
Playoff struggles have unfortunately become a recurring theme for the American netminder. The last time his playoff GAA was below 3.00 and his save percentage was above 0.900 was in 2020 – the same year he won his first Vezina Trophy.
After being named the league`s top goalie last season, Hellebuyck finished with a 5.24 GAA and a 0.864 save percentage as Winnipeg was eliminated in the first round.
According to data from Dom Luszczyszyn of The Athletic, over the past three playoff seasons, Hellebuyck has allowed 15.2 more goals than expected (based on the Goals Above Expected metric), which is the worst among all league goaltenders. Stuart Skinner of Edmonton, the next closest in this statistic, has a GAE of -5.6.
St. Louis fans, conversely, were not pleased with the goalie change, chanting “we want Connor” as play resumed.
Meanwhile, Comrie hopes to demonstrate the same successful play in the playoffs as he did in the regular season. This season, the 29-year-old goaltender played 20 games, posting a 0.914 save percentage and a 2.39 GAA.
