Jets' Hellebuyck relieved to hit reset button against Dallas after dismal performance in Round 1

Connor Hellebuyck says he feels like he's been given a second chance to show what he can do for the Winnipeg Jets.

After faltering at times during Winnipeg's opening-round Stanley Cup playoff series against the St. Louis Blues, the star goalie is carrying a lighter mental load after last Sunday's 4-3 double-overtime Game 7 victory.

"At this point, the pressure has kind of fallen off," Hellebuyck told reporters after the team's optional skate on Tuesday.

"The weight of the world is off my shoulders. And that had nothing to do with anyone else, it's just the mental grind of that series. That being said, in that moment it was like a second chance for me.

"I just got to go and play my game and do what I do best. I don't need to do everything."

The victory sent the Jets into the second round of the Western Conference playoffs against the Dallas Stars, which begins Wednesday in Winnipeg.

Jets defenceman Neal Pionk said Hellebuyck made a promise to his teammates during intermission after the Blues took a 3-1 lead with 35 seconds remaining in the second period of Game 7.

"He said they're not getting another one [goal]," Pionk recalled. "So when he says something like that, he believes it. And we believed him and we knew we had to get two more for him and then we're going to do the rest from there."

The Jets did just that.

With Hellebuyck out of the net for the extra attacker and just over three minutes left in the third period, Vladislav Namestnikov scored with 1:56 remaining and Cole Perfetti tied it up with three seconds left.

"Getting into that OT, it was, 'I'm not going to let these guys down,"' Hellebuyck said.

He stopped four shots in the first overtime and then five more before Jets captain Adam Lowry had the puck bounce