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Jets' Hellebuyck, Blues' Binnington set for sequel of goalie duel in playoffs

WINNIPEG 鈥 If hockey fans enjoyed the duel between the pipes in the 4 Nations Face-Off final, a sequel of sorts is just around the corner. Winnipeg Jets star goaltender Connor Hellebuyck and St.
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Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck (37) saves the shot from Anaheim Ducks' Troy Terry (19) during second period NHL action in Winnipeg on Wednesday, April 16, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/John Woods

WINNIPEG 鈥 If hockey fans enjoyed the duel between the pipes in the 4 Nations Face-Off final, a sequel of sorts is just around the corner.

Winnipeg Jets star goaltender Connor Hellebuyck and St. Louis Blues veteran Jordan Binnington are feature performers when the teams鈥 first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs begins Saturday.

Binnington backstopped Canada to a 3-2 overtime victory against Hellebuyck and the United States in the late February tournament.

Jets head coach Scott Arniel said the goalie matchup is an interesting storyline for the best-of-seven series.

鈥淏innington has been in this league, he鈥檚 won a Stanley Cup,鈥 Arniel said Thursday after practice. 鈥淭he 4 Nations, his spectacular play there. At the end of the day, they鈥檝e been on a run and he鈥檚 been a big part of it. He鈥檚 experienced at this time of the year.

鈥淥n the other side with (Hellebuyck), that 4 Nations was a great opportunity for him to go head-to-head, not only against Binnington but against the other goalies from the other nations, and be in pressure situations much like playoff games. Those are all the kind of learning things for him.鈥

Hellebuyck didn鈥檛 show any downward trend after the tournament disappointment.

The Commerce, Mich., product was the backbone for a Jets team that claimed the franchise鈥檚 first Central Division and Western Conference titles, as well as the Presidents鈥 Trophy for the NHL鈥檚 best regular-season record (56-22-4).

The reigning Vezina Trophy winner led the league in wins this season with 47 in 63 appearances (47-12-3), extending his franchise record. Only two other netminders in league history have registered more, a tie at 48 wins for Martin Brodeur in 2006-07 with New Jersey and Braden Holtby in 2015-16 for Washington.

Hellebuyck joked 鈥 or maybe not 鈥 that he could have 鈥減layed a little bit more鈥 this season.

鈥淚 kind of have everything dialled in,鈥 he said after taking Thursday鈥檚 practice off. 鈥淚鈥檝e got the right people around me to make myself feel good every day. I鈥檝e got a good rhythm. I feel rested, I feel ready for what鈥檚 next.鈥

Hellebuyck had the league鈥檚 best goals-against average (2.00) and most shutouts (eight). His .925 save percentage was just a smidgen behind leader Anthony Stolarz (.926) of the Toronto Maple Leafs.

His name was etched on the William M. Jennings Trophy for a second consecutive season after being the netminder who played a minimum of 25 games for the team allowing the fewest goals during the regular season. The Jets allowed 191 goals.

He became only the fifth goaltender in the league to capture the trophy in back-to-back seasons since it was first handed out in 1981-82. He joins Brodeur, Roman Turek, Patrick Roy and Brian Hayward.

鈥淔or me, it鈥檚 a team award. A tandem award, a team award,鈥 said Hellebuyck, who鈥檚 backed up by Eric Comrie. 鈥淭here鈥檚 just so much that goes into that.鈥

Binnington, who hails from Richmond Hill, Ont., has been in top form since the 4 Nations tournament.

He ran up a 13-3-1 record after putting a gold medal around his neck and helped propel the Blues to the final playoff berth in the West (44-30-8) along with Manitoba-born backup Joel Hofer.

Binnington finished the regular season with a 28-22-5 mark in 56 games. He had three shutouts, a .900 save percentage and 2.69 goals-against average.

What he has that Hellebuyck doesn鈥檛 is a Stanley Cup from 2019, which included eliminating the Jets in the first round in six games.

Winnipeg was also bounced out of the playoffs in the first round the past two seasons.

After last year鈥檚 exit, Hellebuyck told reporters he shouldn鈥檛 try to put everything on his shoulders. He said he needed to dive more into a team game to find 鈥減eace of mind.鈥

When asked Thursday if he did that, he got out the eraser.

鈥淚 scrapped that real fast,鈥 Hellebuyck said. 鈥淣ot saying that I am putting everything on my shoulders, but my goal throughout my entire career is to get a shutout every single night.

鈥淭hat is what makes me me, and that is what I feed off of. I am going to continue to do that because I know that gives this team the best chance to win.鈥

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 17, 2025.

Judy Owen, The Canadian Press

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