Photo by Matt Marton/USA Today [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/aabea3a8-9cb2-43ae-b227-caa3758b3f66.jpeg] Photo by Matt Marton/USA Today The Winnipeg Jets were the NHL's best road club (26-15-0) during the 2024-25 season. So far this postseason, they are 0-3 as the visitor. Connor Hellebuyck was the league's best goaltender, finishing the year with nine more wins than the second place guy, while also sitting first in save percentage and shutouts on the year. So far this postseason, he's been the worst backstop. Friday night in St. Louis proved to be another swing on the old momentum meter, as the Blues took Game 6 by a lopsided score of 5-2. Once again, Hellebuyck got the hook, leaving the crease to Eric Comrie for the third period of a blowout game. Of the 25 goaltenders to play in even a single playoff game so far this spring, Hellebuyck is tied with Los Angeles' Darcy Kuemper - another Vezina Trophy finalist - for the most goals allowed (23). Oh, the third Vezina Trophy finalist, you ask? Well, Andrei Vasilevskiy's Tampa Bay Lightning have already been eliminated by Florida. Hellebuyck has not had a friendly postseason. But his struggles date back two seasons, to which he was unable to beat both the Vegas Golden Knights and Colorado Avalanche, on the play of some very pedestrian goaltending. Easily the league's top goalie this year, Hellebuyck has been unable to replicate his regular season success in the playoffs. And when you compare his numbers side-by-side it becomes nearly incomprehensible the drastic difference between the regular season and playoffs. His .815 save percentage and 4.42 goals against average in the playoffs are a far cry from his .925 save percentage and 2.00 goals against average in the regular season. Even crazier are his numbers when splitting the postseason games between home and away contests. He has given up seven goals on 58 shots in three games at Canada Life Centre (2.67 GAA), while giving up 16 goals on 76 shots in three games at Enterprise Center this postseason (7.25 GAA). But according to his coach, it's nothing to worry about. “A one-game showdown, that’s what it is," Scott Arniel said post-game. "Not just Connor. This isn’t about Connor. Tonight was not about Connor. Tonight, we imploded in front of him. Now it’s a one-game showdown. It’s our goalie against their goalie." Hellebuyck has been pulled in each of the three games at Enterprise Center this playoff run, but has picked up wins in each of his three starts at Canada Life Centre. “I don’t need to talk about Bucky," forward Nikolaj Ehlers said. "Bucky has been phenomenal for us all year, and he’s continued to do that. We’ve got to be better. We know when we play the right way, play well, making the right reads, we are a really good team, and we’ve shown that in this series. We’ve got to keep that up in 60 minutes.” Winnipeg was unable to close the series in Game 6 on Friday, but will have a shot at moving on when the Jets host the Blues on Sunday evening. The home team has won each game thus far. Puck drop is set for 6:00 PM central time on Sunday.
