Connor Hellebuyck shuts out Stars in Game 2 as Jets tie series - ESPN

The sea of white in Winnipeg chanted «M-V-P!» in unison during the Jets' Game 2 win over the Dallas Stars on Friday night. Goalie Connor Hellebuyck heard and appreciated those chants.

«It means a whole lot. I love this crowd. I love this city,» said Hellebuyck, who stopped 21 shots in Winnipeg's 4-0 victory that evened their Western Conference semifinal series at 1-1.

It was Hellebuyck's first playoff shutout since a 1-0 blanking of the Edmonton Oilers in the first round in 2021, and the fourth postseason shutout of his career. Hellebuyck led the NHL with eight shutouts in the regular season, which helped him become a finalist for the Hart Trophy as league MVP and for the Vezina Trophy as the NHL's top goaltender, an award he won last season and in 2020.

Prior to Friday night, he had not been that same goaltender in the postseason.

Considered by many the best netminder in the world, Hellebuyck was the worst goalie statistically in the 2025 Stanley Cup playoffs entering Game 2. He was 4-4 with an .836 save percentage, the lowest for any goalie with at least three postseason games played. He was last in the playoffs through eight games with a minus-9.68 goals saved above expected. He had a 3.75 goals-against average as well, after sporting a GAA of 2.00 and a .925 save percentage in the regular season.

Yet the Jets' faith in their goaltender never wavered.

«We rely on him. Sometimes too much. But he was incredible tonight,» said defenseman Josh Morrissey, who missed Game 1 against Dallas and most of Game 7 against St. Louis with an injury. «That's what he does every night for us. He's an incredible goaltender. He makes very difficult saves look very easy, routinely and often. You could tell he was feeling it tonight. When