WINNIPEG 鈥� Thoughts of winning hockey鈥檚 ultimate prize are never far from Connor Hellebuyck鈥檚 mind.聽
The Winnipeg Jets goalie has experienced the thrill of playoff hockey three seasons in a row. He鈥檚 been named the league鈥檚 best netminder. But Hellebuyck has yet to hoist the Stanley Cup.聽
鈥淗onestly, it鈥檚 all I think about,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 all I鈥檝e got left to go for.鈥�
Hellebuyck and the Jets will begin their latest quest for the Cup on Wednesday when they face the Edmonton Oilers to kick off the first round of the playoffs.聽
Winning with this particular collection of players would be extra special, the goalie said.聽
鈥淏eing with this group of guys, we鈥檝e been growing together for the last couple years and there鈥檚 no better team that I鈥檇 want to celebrate this with,鈥� he said.
"I know it鈥檚 going to be a lot of hard work, but I鈥檓 really excited for that. Because once you get to the end of it, you look back and you can really cherish all those hard games and those tiny moments that don鈥檛 seem like much at the time, but they are big moments. So I鈥檓 looking forward to those tiny big moments."
Last season, the Calgary Flames ousted the Jets from the play-in round in a four-game series. It was a disappointing finish after a regular season that saw Hellebuyck post a 31-21-5 record with a .922 save percentage and a 2.57 goals-against average.聽
He won the Vezina Trophy, awarded annually to the NHL鈥檚 top goaltender, for the performance.聽
The 27-year-old from Commerce, Mich., has remained a stalwart force in the Jets net this year with a .916 save percentage and a 2.58 goals-against average through regular-season play.
Hellebuyck spent more time on ice than any other NHL goaltender (2,602 minutes and 49 seconds over 45 games) and ranked fifth in both wins (24) and shutouts (four).聽
The six-foot-four, 207-pound netminder been a key leader for the Jets all season, said coach Paul Maurice.
鈥淭he guy that plays the most minutes is the most important guy. (Hellebuyck's) our 60-minute guy," Maurice said. "And he鈥檚 excited and he鈥檚 obviously incredibly talented and gifted, so we feed off that a great deal.鈥�
Having Hellebuyck in goal gives Winnipeg a chance every night, said Jets captain Blake Wheeler.
鈥淭hat鈥檚 kind of been our M.O. here for the last handful of years 鈥� regardless of how bad we could throw a stinker out there, we鈥檝e got a chance with 37 in the net,鈥� he said. 鈥淪o that鈥檚 where our confidence starts. He鈥檚 a very confident guy in his game and he gives us a ton of confidence back there.鈥�
That confidence 鈥渒ind of trickles down through the entire team,鈥� said Jets defenceman Dylan DeMelo.聽
鈥淗e stays very even keel no matter what. When he鈥檚 playing great he stays the same way as when, you know, maybe he lets in a few soft ones and gets pulled.鈥�
Playing in front of Hellebuyck is a lot of fun, DeMelo added.聽
鈥淵ou know he鈥檚 there to have your back,鈥� he said. 鈥淥bviously I knew how good he was, but playing in front of him I just realize how good he really is. Top, top goalie in this league and in the world and we鈥檙e very lucky to have him.鈥澛�
Winnipeg heads into the playoffs third in the North Division with a 30-23-3 record after struggling through the end of the season. A seven-game losing skid through the end of April threatened to relegate the Jets to fourth spot.聽
The Oilers dominated the season series between the two sides, winning seven of nine games, including a 6-1 decision on April 26.聽
Hellebuyck knows some onlookers have low expectations of the Jets heading into the playoffs. And he鈥檚 using their skepticism as fuel.聽
鈥淚 try not to look at all that stuff, but if you want to call us an underdog, go ahead,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e鈥檒l use that as energy. Any little advantage that we can get right now we鈥檙e going to take. That鈥檚 what it takes in playoffs. Anything 鈥� the last puck, the last tip, the last block 鈥� is going to matter.鈥澛�
This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 17, 2021.聽
The Canadian Press
