Devils secure 5-1 win in Hellebuyck's debut after trade acquisition
New Jersey defeated Dallas 5-1 in Connor Hellebuyck's first start of the 2026-27 season, with the goaltender making 17 saves and the team improving to 8-4-0.
The New Jersey Devils defeated the Dallas Stars 5-1 on Tuesday, giving newly acquired goaltender Connor Hellebuyck a victorious debut for the 2026-27 season. Hellebuyck, 33, was traded from the Winnipeg Jets on Friday in a six-player deal and entered the lineup two days later.
"If you asked me, I was ready two months ago," Hellebuyck said after the game. "I just had the mindset since the day I got here that I want to get in."
Hellebuyck stopped 17 of 18 shots as the Devils outshot Dallas 27-18, moving to an 8-4-0 record. He praised the defensive play in front of him, noting the low shot volume and the team's willingness to let him handle the puck.
"I thought the guys in front of me played a perfect game for me to get acclimated. A low amount of shots, blocking everything, keeping everything to the outside. They let me touch the puck a lot," he said.
Head coach Sheldon Keefe highlighted Hellebuyck's physical readiness and the benefit of getting him into the lineup early.
"You can kind of see why he was pushing to play, because he very much is physically ready. It was good for us to get him in that game and play well in front of him and get him the win," Keefe said.
Captain Nico Hischier added that the veteran's calm demeanor helped the team.
"He just spread this calmness out. He’s a very calm goalie, and he made some big saves in the game in certain situations where it could maybe turn a little bit of momentum to their side," Hischier said.
The trade sent prospect Alexander Command, forwards Dawson Mercer and Nick Bjugstad, goaltender Nico Daws, a 2027 seventh-round pick and a 2029 second-round pick to Winnipeg. Following the acquisition, the Devils' odds to win the Stanley Cup improved, tying them with the Washington Capitals for the eighth-best odds in the league.
Hellebuyck acknowledged some rust in his return but remained confident in the team's defensive performance.
"They played so good in front of me that I was really never worried. We didn’t have any breakdowns. I had a couple minor mistakes that you guys wouldn’t even know if I told you, but that’s part of knocking off the rust," he said.