Jets goalie Hellebuyck expects to bounce back in Game 5: ‘I am going to be better'
Winnipeg Jets' Dylan Samberg (54) and Connor Hellebuyck (37) defend the net against St. Louis Blues' Colton Parayko (55) during the second period in Game 4 of an NHL hockey first-round playoff series Sunday, April 27, 2025, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Connor Hamilton)
St. Louis Blues' Robert Thomas (18) celebrates a goal on on Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck (37) on a shot by Jimmy Snuggerud, not shown, during the first period of an NHL playoff game in Winnipeg, Monday April 21, 2025. (Fred Greenslade/The Canadian Press via AP)
Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck (37) makes a save against a St. Louis Blues shot during the third period of Game 2 of a first-round NHL hockey playoff series in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Monday April 21, 2025. (Fred Greenslade/The Canadian Press via AP)
Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck (37) makes a save against a St. Louis Blues shot during the third period of Game 2 of a first-round NHL hockey playoff series in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Monday April 21, 2025. (Fred Greenslade/The Canadian Press via AP)
Winnipeg Jets' Connor Hellebuyck (37) and Vladislav Namestnikov (7) defend the net against St. Louis Blues' Jake Neighbours (63) during the second period in Game 4 of an NHL hockey first-round playoff series Sunday, April 27, 2025, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Connor Hamilton)
Winnipeg Jets' Dylan Samberg (54) and Connor Hellebuyck (37) defend the net against St. Louis Blues' Colton Parayko (55) during the second period in Game 4 of an NHL hockey first-round playoff series Sunday, April 27, 2025, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Connor Hamilton)
St. Louis Blues' Robert Thomas (18) celebrates a goal on on Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck (37) on a shot by Jimmy Snuggerud, not shown, during the first period of an NHL playoff game in Winnipeg, Monday April 21, 2025. (Fred Greenslade/The Canadian Press via AP)
Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck (37) makes a save against a St. Louis Blues shot during the third period of Game 2 of a first-round NHL hockey playoff series in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Monday April 21, 2025. (Fred Greenslade/The Canadian Press via AP)
WINNIPEG, Manitoba (AP) — Connor Hellebuyck says there is no crack in his confidence after the Winnipeg Jets goalie was pulled during his team's last two playoff losses.
Hellebuyck, who was announced Monday as a finalist for the Vezina Trophy, told reporters his mindset is good heading into Wednesday's Game 5 at home against St. Louis.
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The Blues tied the Western Conference best-of-seven opening-round series 2-2 after thumping the Jets 5-1 on Sunday and 7-2 Thursday in St. Louis.
'You don't love giving up that many goals, but we're 2-2 in the series. That's all that matters. Win the next one,' Hellebuyck said after he and most of his teammates didn't take part in Monday's optional skate.
'Am I going to be better? I am going to be better. I've studied goaltending extremely hard. I've probably studied the most out of anyone in this world, so I know what to do and how to get my best game. So that's what I'm looking forward to do.'
Backup Eric Comrie replaced Hellebuyck in the third period of the past two losses and gave up one goal in Thursday's match.
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Hellebuyck is up for the NHL's top goalie award with Darcy Kuemper of the Los Angeles Kings and Andrei Vasilevskiy of the Tampa Bay Lightning.
The 31-year-old from Commerce, Michigan, is the reigning Vezina Trophy winner and also claimed the honor in 2020. He was a finalist in 2018 and 2023.
Hellebuyck posted career bests in wins (47), shutouts (eight), goals-against average (2.00) and save percentage (.925) to help Winnipeg finish the regular season with the league's best record and gain home-ice advantage by capturing the Presidents' Trophy.
'It would be crazy to go that many regular-season games and then all of a sudden switch something up in the playoffs,' Hellebuyck said. 'You don't win 47 games and then come the playoffs switch everything up. I know how it needs to look. I like a lot of things. I'm not going to go and make huge changes.'
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Hellebuyck won a second consecutive William M. Jennings Trophy as the goaltender (minimum of 25 games played) on the team allowing the fewest regular-season goals.
He said he's mentally prepared for what's ahead.
'I think playoff time, that's one of the most important attributes you can have, is being strong between the ears,' Hellebuyck said. 'You don't want to go into a game playing with fear. If you play with fear, that's when you start to actually make mistakes and want things back.
'We go out, we play our game and you continue to be better every single shift, every single game and every single day. That's my mindset moving forward, and I'm looking forward to that.'
___
AP NHL playoffs: https://apnews.com/hub/stanley-cup and https://apnews.com/hub/nhl
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