Connor Hellebuyck wins debut with New Jersey Devils in 5-1 victory over Dallas
Goalie Connor Hellebuyck recorded his first win for the New Jersey Devils, making 17 saves in a 5-1 road win against the Dallas Stars, as the team improves to 8-4 on the season.
Connor Hellebuyck made his debut for the New Jersey Devils on Tuesday night, helping the team defeat the Dallas Stars 5-1 in Dallas. The 33-year-old goaltender, who spent 11 seasons with the Winnipeg Jets, stopped 17 shots and contributed to the Devils' fourth consecutive win, moving the club to an 8-4-0 record for the year.
The Devils built a 3-0 lead in the first half of the game and limited the Stars to few scoring chances. Dallas scored a second-period goal on a deflection, but New Jersey responded with two more tallies to secure the win.
"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," Hellebuyck said after the game. "You can practice touching it and feeling good with the hands, but it’s all about immediate decisions, checking and having a play already picked before you even get the puck. So, I touched it as many times as I could just to work through it."
Devils head coach Sheldon Keefe praised Hellebuyck's confidence and readiness, noting the goaltender appeared comfortable despite joining the team mid-season.
"He not only seems like he’s in midseason form but seems like he’s been here a long time," Keefe said. "He’s got a tremendous level of confidence, for good reason: He’s earned that."
The Stars' coach Glen Gulutzan described the loss as the team's worst performance of the season, while the Winnipeg Jets, now without Hellebuyck, fell 5-1 at home to the Florida Panthers, extending their losing streak to six games.