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The Winnipeg Jets Did Not Get Connor Hellebuyck’s Best

By Kyle McCarthy

LAS VEGAS, NV - MAY 18: James Neal #18 of the Vegas Golden Knights crashed into Connor Hellebuyck #37 of the Winnipeg Jets during the third period in Game Four of the Western Conference Finals during the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at T-Mobile Arena on May 18, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Golden Knights defeated the Jets 3-2. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV - MAY 18: James Neal #18 of the Vegas Golden Knights crashed into Connor Hellebuyck #37 of the Winnipeg Jets during the third period in Game Four of the Western Conference Finals during the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at T-Mobile Arena on May 18, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Golden Knights defeated the Jets 3-2. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /
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The Winnipeg Jets were already facing an uphill climb, being down two games to one. Their young American Hero goaltender, the one with the Vezina Finalist nod, he would bring them back, right? No. He wouldn’t.

The Winnipeg Jets are getting mildly outplayed. Their defense hasn’t been jumping into lanes and stuffing people in the neutral zone. The Jets have outshot Vegas in every game this series, it’s true.

They scored a goal on the powerplay in Game 4. Patrik Laine even did the honors, good for him. But this team will be eliminated on Sunday afternoon if Connor Hellebuyck doesn’t play better.

We’ve sung his praises all season, and he had a great year. Hellebuyck is a cornerstone of this Jets team moving forward, and he’s paramount to their success. He is a very good goaltender and the Winnipeg Jets and their fans are lucky to have him.

But he needs to be better. Marc-Andre Fleury is too good for this, and Hellebuyck needs to match him. Is that simple? No. Fleury has a .951% save percentage since that Game One loss. It looked as if the Jets would be able to exploit him, but he’s turned right back into Good Fleury. The one that can win Cups.

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Connor Hellebuyck has managed just an .895% save percentage. That’s barely good enough to beat the Buffalo Sabres, let alone a team in the Western Conference Finals.

It isn’t just the percentages that are killing Hellebuyck. The second goal in Game Four was downright embarrassing for an NHL goaltender.

You can’t get embarrassed in the playoffs and hope to win. I refuse to abjure my claim that Winnipeg is better than Vegas. But Fleury is better than Hellebuyck. There’s no shame in that. Marc-Andre is a damn good NHL goalie. It’s not easy to be better than him.

But Connor Hellebuyck just needed to keep the matchup close for a few games, and then, bam, the Winnipeg Jets would be onto the Stanley Cup Finals.

This is a great season for the Winnipeg Jets, win or lose this series. They blasted expectations and made it to the Conference Finals. But we’re not ready to write them off just yet. There’s more in the tank, and it would be disappointing if the ride stops here. Disappointing, yes, but nowhere near a disappointment.

Next: The Jets Need Hellebuyck's Best

There’s no shame in losing to a team like this with a goalie like this in the Conference Finals. But it would be hard for Connor Hellebuyck to go down like this.  He needs to be better, win or lose.

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