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Winnipeg Free Press
4 days ago
- Sport
- Winnipeg Free Press
Opinion: Perfetti perfection distils the wonder of Winnipeg: A love letter to a city that is often underestimated
Opinion The fear of tumbling down rows of seats from the 300-level of the Canada Life Centre was never more real than the night of the Manitoba Miracle. A moment of genuine Winnipeg history, as forward Cole Perfetti flicked the puck in just under the crossbar with seconds left in the first-ever Game 7 on home ice for the Jets 2.0. The jumping — that frenzied celebratory bedlam — posed a real threat to the safety of all of us, stabilized only by the hugs from friends and strangers in the vicinity. And, perhaps, by the sticky beer that had been tossed in the air only to end up coating the floor. I've never screamed so loud in my life, to the point of feeling completely dizzy. It was sports at its absolute best, but also a moment, upon reflection, indicative of the uniquely Winnipeg lived experience. Amid that opening-round series against the St. Louis Blues and the subsequent clash with the Dallas Stars, despite the Jets finishing the regular season as the NHL's top team and regardless of fans' placards declaring 'We Believe,' a nagging doubt of going all the way persisted. That a city like ours could not possibly achieve such a feat. It felt as if it tapped into the core belief Winnipeggers seem to have, that we are somehow less than — not just in sports, but in many other arenas. Despite heroics by Cole Perfetti (91) and signs touting resolute belief in the Jets' playoff crusade, there was always niggling doubt the city didn't warrant this level of fame. (Fred Greenslade / The Canadian Press files) My parents said it and I know I have too, that you must be from this city in order to love it. A belief that we should reach out and name for the lie it is. Winnipeg is a fabulous city, built on a community that is unlike any I've ever seen. Is it a perfect place? Of course not. But it is a place where you find people who care about each other and get back up after our failures and try to do better. Some readers might recognize my name from past issues of the Free Press. Having been both a regular contributor to this newspaper for years from the streets of the Exchange District and the West End, and a less-frequent contributor when I moved abroad to cover Russia's war in Ukraine, somewhere along the way I set up a base camp in London, England. My most recent return forced an appreciation, perhaps for the first time from an outsider's perspective, of just how special Winnipeg is. And I'm learning the hard way that sometimes, it takes leaving to appreciate the things that matter the most. This spring I came home for a pair of weddings, taking several weeks off work to show my British partner the city that still remains 'home' no matter how long I'm away. We arrived to an overwhelming patina of brown, a city still shaking off the grungy remnants of a long winter. We arrived before the street cleaners emerged, before the lilacs bloomed, before the Beer Can opened its gate. Vapour rises from buildings downtown on a cold morning. (Mikaela MacKenzie / Free Press files) I apologized to my partner Alex for bringing him here at the worst possible time of year because, I figured, even in the thick of winter when it's -30 C, we could have gone skating down the river or attended Festival du Voyageur. If it was summer, I countered, there would have been an onslaught of festivals from Folklorama to the Fringe, the beer gardens would have all been in top form, and nearby beaches would have called our names. As I ran through the list of my favourite things to do in Winnipeg, none of them would suit in April and early May. And yet, this city still managed to enamour him, and me, with the wonder that is Winnipeg. Playoffs were an obvious boon, stoking a not-often-seen unbridled enthusiasm for the city. And hockey was a new and entertaining sport for a Brit used to the comparative crawling-pace of soccer. (Football, sorry London). But we also watched Free Press columnist Jen Zoratti try standup comedy for the first time as one of the featured performers in the Winnipeg Comedy Festival's pro-am event. Nearly three hours of non-stop laughter, only 20 per cent of which I had to 'subtitle' for the foreigner, as the humour turned self-deprecating for the city I now defend. We spent an hour watching butterflies at The Leaf, and many more walking around The Forks and Garbage Hill, and Kilcona Park, too. I introduced him to the joy of singing with beats up and the car windows down, a simple pleasure I've long taken for granted. But he doesn't even have a driver's licence. In London, why would you? Smokies lit up the grill for catch-ups with some of the best friends the world has to offer. We ate our way through the finest restaurants in town and settled down with family for Alex's first experience of s'mores around a backyard fire. (Before the fire ban took effect — safety first.) I didn't offer him a rose-coloured view. I took him to the Canadian Museum for Human Rights and talked about the struggles we face with our colonial legacies. We walked past homeless encampments and he saw the North End, too. An imperfect place, with so much work to be done. But what city isn't? On the grounds of the legislature on a sunny afternoon, a family from Hamilton told us how much fun they were having visiting Winnipeg for the first time. And it surprised me, I'm embarrassed to say — despite the fact I was having a blast showing off same city. But that's just because I'm from here, right? Evening fun on the grounds of the Manitoba Legislature. (Mike Sudoma / Free Press files) Through the years I've left for different parts of Canada, only to return time and time again, drawn back to this place. Not out of necessity, but out of a deep and enduring love that only finds new facets the more of the world I see, the more I learn about the quirks of other cities not only across Canada, but around the world. I was reading the other day an interview with Perfetti about the Manitoba Miracle. He said he couldn't remember the moment surrounding his buzzer-beating goal, and that he blacked out from the excitement amid the roar of the crowd. I just want to say the rest of us will remember it forever. A moment of absolute perfection that embodied just one part of what makes me love this city so much. Now, I wake in London to my partner relaying NHL playoff scores and highlights from games played in the wee hours of the morning, at least in our time zone. Winnipeg has clearly left an impression. And it hardly matters that the Jets couldn't top the Stars. Or that the leaves weren't out to greet us. It is a place and community that always punches above its weight. I am fortunate to have so much love in my life that I can claim to have two homes. But it feels so bittersweet leaving, saying goodbye when the time is never long enough.
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Dallas Stars look to knock out Winnipeg in Game 6, and not let Hellebuyck have another shot at home
Winnipeg Jets' Adam Lowry (17) and Dallas Stars players push and shove at the end of a play during third period NHL playoff hockey action in Winnipeg, Thursday, May 15, 2025. (Fred Greenslade/The Canadian Press via AP) Dallas Stars goaltender Jake Oettinger (29) makes a save on a Winnipeg Jets shot as Brandon Tanev (73) looks for the rebound during third period NHL playoff hockey action in Winnipeg, Thursday, May 15, 2025. (Fred Greenslade/The Canadian Press via AP) Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck (37) makes a save on a Dallas Stars shot as Tyler Seguin (91) and Thomas Harley (55) look for the rebound during second period NHL playoff hockey action in Winnipeg, Thursday, May 15, 2025. (Fred Greenslade/The Canadian Press via AP) Winnipeg Jets' Vladislav Namestnikov (7) returns to the bench with teammates after scoring on the Dallas Stars during the third period of an NHL playoff hockey game in Winnipeg, Thursday, May 15, 2025. (Fred Greenslade/The Canadian Press via AP) Winnipeg Jets' Vladislav Namestnikov (7) returns to the bench with teammates after scoring on the Dallas Stars during the third period of an NHL playoff hockey game in Winnipeg, Thursday, May 15, 2025. (Fred Greenslade/The Canadian Press via AP) Winnipeg Jets' Adam Lowry (17) and Dallas Stars players push and shove at the end of a play during third period NHL playoff hockey action in Winnipeg, Thursday, May 15, 2025. (Fred Greenslade/The Canadian Press via AP) Dallas Stars goaltender Jake Oettinger (29) makes a save on a Winnipeg Jets shot as Brandon Tanev (73) looks for the rebound during third period NHL playoff hockey action in Winnipeg, Thursday, May 15, 2025. (Fred Greenslade/The Canadian Press via AP) Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck (37) makes a save on a Dallas Stars shot as Tyler Seguin (91) and Thomas Harley (55) look for the rebound during second period NHL playoff hockey action in Winnipeg, Thursday, May 15, 2025. (Fred Greenslade/The Canadian Press via AP) Winnipeg Jets' Vladislav Namestnikov (7) returns to the bench with teammates after scoring on the Dallas Stars during the third period of an NHL playoff hockey game in Winnipeg, Thursday, May 15, 2025. (Fred Greenslade/The Canadian Press via AP) DALLAS (AP) — The Dallas Stars may just want to wrap up their second-round Western Conference series when they have a chance in Game 6, and not let Connor Hellebuyck and the Jets get another game in Winnipeg. While the Stars have a 3-2 series lead and aren't facing elimination Saturday night at home, a loss would send them quickly back to Winnipeg for a series-deciding game. That is where Hellebuyck has back-to-back shutouts and hasn't allowed a goal to Dallas in more than 141 minutes on the ice since Mikko Rantanen's hat trick in the second period of Game 1 that was enough for a 3-2 win. Advertisement 'We felt like we needed to win this one. You don't want to give them any life at all. We don't want to come back here for Game 7," Stars forward Matt Duchene said after their 4-0 loss Thursday night extended the series. 'Obviously up 3-1 at one point, it might take seven. They're a good enough team, it could.' Hellebuyck and the Jets, however, have lost nine consecutive playoff road games since winning their postseason opener at Vegas in 2023, including Games 3 and 4 of this series in Dallas. The Presidents' Trophy winner has been outscored 25-8 away from home in these playoffs. 'We've got to win a road game," Jets captain Adam Lowry said. 'We haven't played well on the road at all this playoff, so no better time than now to start.' Winnipeg Jets at Dallas Stars Advertisement When/Where to Watch: Game 6, Saturday, 8 p.m. EDT (ABC) Series: Stars lead 3-2. The winner of this series advances to play a resting Edmonton team in the Western Conference Final. The Oilers wrapped up their second round-victory over Vegas with a 1-0 overtime win in Game 5 on Wednesday night. Dallas is trying to reach the West final for the third season in a row, and lost in six games to Edmonton last year. Winnipeg's last conference final was in 2018. Stars captain Jamie Benn sucker-punched Winnipeg center Mark Scheifele during a late scrum in Game 5. Benn was given a misconduct penalty then, and on Friday was fined by the NHL the maximum-allowed $5,000, but avoided a suspension. Advertisement 'My face hurts. There's not much I can really say in this situation,' Scheifele said Friday before the Jets flew to Texas. Scheifele got credited with the opening goal Thursday on a wrist shot that deflected off two Dallas players and past goaltender Jake Oettinger, who had 31 saves. The Jets had a two-man advantage after consecutive tripping periods early in the third period and went ahead 2-0 when Nikolaj Ehlers scored — he added a late empty-netter for his fifth goal in the series. 'I thought we actually weathered the storm OK. Jake was really good early, which you need. I think the goal off our own skate, the 4-on-4 goal, that's a tough one to give up. Then you give up the 5-on-3 goal,' Stars coach Pete DeBoer said. 'They played with a desperation level like it was an elimination game. We're a little bit off that.' Dallas has won five home games in a row since starting the postseason against Colorado with its eighth consecutive Game 1 loss — an unexplainable streak that finally ended with the Rantanen-led win to open this series. That was after his four-point third period with a hat trick in Game 7 against the Avalanche, his former team. Advertisement If the Stars do need another Game 7 on Monday night, they have won all three they have played under DeBoer over three seasons. He is the only coach or player in NHL history to be part of nine Game 7 victories, with four different teams, and hasn't lost one. Dallas would prefer not to have to play another one, while the Jets hope to stave off elimination for the third time this postseason. 'It would mean that we're not going on vacation yet,' Ehlers said. 'We want to go to Dallas and win that game. ... It's been so special to play here in front of this crowd, and we want to repay them by coming back and playing a Game 7 here.' ___ AP NHL playoffs: and
Winnipeg Free Press
10-05-2025
- Sport
- Winnipeg Free Press
Hellebuyck is back
Go figure that the deepest version of the Winnipeg Jets also happens to be the most dangerous. That was on full display Friday night as a group we haven't seen for quite a while — nearly two months in fact — rolled to a dominant 4-0 victory over the Dallas Stars at Canada Life Centre. The best-of-seven second-round series between the Central Division rivals is now a best-of-five, tied 1-1 as it shifts to Dallas. Game 3 is Sunday afternoon, while Game 4 goes Tuesday night. Fred Greenslade / The Canadian Press Winnipeg Jets players celebrate Gabriel Vilardi's goal against the Dallas Stars in the first period in Winnipeg, Friday You have to go all the way back to March 11 to find the last time not a single Jets player was on the injured list. Defenceman Neal Pionk got hurt that night, and several other teammates have followed at various times since including Gabe Vilardi, Nikolaj Ehlers, Josh Morrissey and Mark Scheifele. The infirmary was fully emptied out on Friday night with everyone available to Jets coach Scott Arniel. The result was a club that reminded everyone how — and why — they won the Presidents' Trophy as the league's best regular season team and the William Jennings Trophy as the NHL's stingiest. It all starts with goaltender Connor Hellebuyck, who responded to the usual pre-game chants of 'MVP' by playing like one. He was terrific, including a handful of 'how the heck did he do that?' stops that had all 15,225 fans inside the downtown rink on their feet. Hellebuyck stopped all 21 pucks that came his way for his fourth career playoff shutout and his first since the 2021 pandemic-shortened season against the Edmonton Oilers. From the goaltender on out, this was the desired response for a team that dropped Game 1 by a 3-2 score, surrendering home-ice advantage in the process. The Jets were clearly the more desperate team, forcing Dallas to repeatedly chip and chase the puck rather than generating any kind of sustained offensive zone pressure or attack. Now the key is to bottle up this game and take it down to Texas. LOOK MA, NO HANDS! Vilardi had yet to really make a mark on the playoffs, recording just one assist through his first four games. That's not a knock on the player, but rather a reflection on the fact he was coming off a 17-game absence when he jumped into Game 5 of the first-round series against the St. Louis Blues. Fred Greenslade / The Canadian Press Winnipeg Jets' Gabriel Vilardi scores on Dallas Stars goaltender Jake Oettinger in the first period. 'I said to him, he was on a bicycle jumping on an Indy track that is going 200 miles an hour,' Jets coach Scott Arniel said Friday morning of the sudden transition. 'So, now he knows the pace, now he knows what's coming. You see it. He's more and more comfortable making plays, he's holding onto pucks. Getting around that net.' That's exactly where Vilardi was when he buried a feed from Ehlers 3:35 into the first period to give the Jets a 1-0 lead. Veteran Dallas forward Tyler Seguin had caught Morrissey with a high-stick just 17 seconds into the game, drawing blood and earning a four-minute penalty. The Jets — with their top power play unit back intact for the first time since March 23 — quickly made them pay. A healthy Vilardi, who can be a net-front menace, is a great development for Winnipeg. GOTTA BE GOOD TO BE LUCKY: Ehlers didn't miss as much time as Vilardi — just seven total games including the first five against the Blues — but he, too, had really been fighting the puck at times. Fortunately for the pending unrestricted free agent, he's had a bit of good puck luck on his side as he gets back up to speed. In Game 7, for example, he whiffed on an initial shot attempt which ultimately led to the sequence of incredible events that resulted in Cole Perfetti's game-tying goal at 19:57 of the third period. On Friday, it was a pass attempt that hit Dallas defenceman Esa Lindell's skates and directed straight into the back of the Stars net. They don't ask how, just how many. Ehlers' fifth career playoff goal in his 41st career playoff game, was a big one, giving the Jets a 2-0 lead at 7:07 of the opening frame. Fred Greenslade / The Canadian Press Mark Scheifele celebrates Nikolaj Ehlers' first-period goal Friday against the Dallas Stars. Ehlers had several other great looks in what was easily the most complete game since his return. He then finished off his productive night with a long-distance empty-netter with just over three minutes left in the game. A determined Ehlers — who is not only playing for his current team but also his next contract — is a dangerous weapon for Winnipeg. THE MOOSE WASN'T LOOSE: Mikko Rantanen began the night on an all-time heater, having been involved in 12 straight Dallas goals (either scoring them or assisting on them) to establish a new Stanley Cup playoff record. But the man who scored all three goals by the visitors in Wednesday's 3-2 Game 1 victory was held in check on this night. Sometimes literally, such as when Jets defenceman Neal Pionk but a big bear hug on the man known to teammates as 'Moose' and wrestled him to the ice in the first period. The Jets didn't give him much time and space. The shutdown line of Adam Lowry, Nino Niederreiter and Mason Appleton were in his face early and often and even managed to tilt the ice for a sustained stretch in the second period which resulted in Lowry making it 3-0 for the Jets at 11:02. It came after a lengthy offensive zone cycle shift, which actually began with the fourth line pinning Rantanen and company in their end. Rantanen took a high-sticking minor against Dylan Samberg late in the second, which ended up being his only notation on the gamesheet. He had just one shot on goal, two giveaways and one blocked shot in just over 21 minutes of ice time. Fred Greenslade / The Canadian Press Dallas Stars' Mikko Rantanen is pressured by Winnipeg Jets' defenceman Dylan Demelo in the first period. The good news for Rantanen? Since Dallas didn't score at all, his streak of 12 remains intact. FINGER LICKING GOOD: Kyle Connor, who is often referred to by fans as KFC (short for Kyle 'Frickin' Connor), was the subject of a funny cross-promotion on Friday night involving the fast food chain by the same name. The first 10,000 fans entering the arena were given white buckets bearing Connor's likeness — which bore a striking resemblance to Colonel Sanders, with a lookalike sitting in the crowd for good measure. Not only that, but the KFC located at 1275 Portage Ave. has temporarily re-branded by replacing the usual logo with the Connor one. Connor, who leads the Jets with 12 playoff points so far this spring, didn't add to his tally. KEY PLAY: Lowry's goal midway through the second period felt like the dagger. THREE STARS: Fred Greenslade / The Canadian Press Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck gets a piece of the puck to deflect a shot from Dallas Stars' Evgenii Dadonov in the second period. 1. WPG G Connor Hellebuyck: 21 save shutout. 2. WPG LW Nikolaj Ehlers: 2 goals, 1 assist 3. WPG C Adam Lowry: 1 goal EXTRA, EXTRA: Winnipeg went 1-for-5 on the power play and a perfect 3-for-3 on the penalty kill. Dallas goaltneder Jake Oettinger, who was once again serenaded with 'U.S. Backup' chants by the Winnipeg crowd, stopped 21 of 24 shots he faced. Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. With so many healthy bodies now available, plenty of tough decisions had to be made by Arniel. Four skaters who have already appeared in the playoffs — forwards Jaret Anderson-Dolan, Dominic Toninato and David Gustafsson and defenceman Luke Schenn — were all scratched, along with defenceman Ville Heinola, forward Rasmus Kupari and third-string goaltender Chris Driedger. Dallas rolled the same lineup for a second straight game, meaning defenceman Miro Heiskanen did not return from a lengthy absence due to a knee injury. He could be an option as early as Sunday. Fred Greenslade / The Canadian Press Dallas Stars' Alexander Petrovic checks Winnipeg Jets' Adam Lowry into the bench during the second period. With the Jets victory, a Game 5 in Winnipeg is now guaranteed to take place on Thursday. No time has been released by the NHL. X and Bluesky: @mikemcintyrewpg Mike McIntyreReporter Mike McIntyre is a sports reporter whose primary role is covering the Winnipeg Jets. After graduating from the Creative Communications program at Red River College in 1995, he spent two years gaining experience at the Winnipeg Sun before joining the Free Press in 1997, where he served on the crime and justice beat until 2016. Read more about Mike. Every piece of reporting Mike produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press's tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press's history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates. Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
Winnipeg Free Press
06-05-2025
- Sport
- Winnipeg Free Press
A hockey win, through a social media lens
Opinion Regardless of what happens for the team in the rest of the NHL playoffs, Sunday night's win by the Winnipeg Jets over the St. Louis Blues was an epic hockey game. One for the ages. To go into the last three minutes of the game trailing 3-1 and manage to not only score a tying goal with less than three seconds left on the clock, but also win in double overtime in Game 7 of a playoff series? Fred Greenslade / THE CANADIAN PRESS Winnipeg Jets' Adam Lowry It was, simply put, an astounding turnaround. But it was also an interesting object lesson about social media, the pressure we put on top-ranked athletes and the regular lack of anything approaching common courtesy. Don't read the comments: it's something that editors in the media tell new reporters and even people submitting letters to the editor or op-ed pieces. There's a simple reason for that advice: the world seems to be full of people with nothing better to do than belittle and insult anyone who puts themselves out in the public sphere. It's without a doubt worse in professional sports. With the third period winding down and the Blues seemingly in control of the game, online bile began to drip steadily on social media sites like X. Not just from one hateful troll happily spreading trash online, but from poster after poster. 'Winnipeg Jets ultimate choke job of the century?' 'Blues got this in the bag.' 'Wow the Winnipeg Jets really going to choke this away. Hellebuyck just couldn't get it done and the offence disappeared this game.' 'Winnipeg should be named choke city. Bombers choke on the (Grey Cup) and jets choke on the first round.' 'Being a Jets fan must suck, you have to watch your team lose at home in a game 7 because your goalie has the yips and then you have to live in Winnipeg.' 'It's like the Jets want to lose so they can spend time somewhere other than Winnipeg.' The internet commenters had a hate on for Connor Hellebuyck, for all the players on the Jets, for Winnipeg itself — even for the anthem singer before the game. Those sentiments began to turn after Winnipeg pulled the goalie for an extra attacker with minutes to go in the third period, and Vlad Namestnikov scored a goal to draw within one goal of the Blues with less than two minutes left. When Cole Perfetti scored with less than three seconds left on the clock to tie the game, hate turned to hope, and the X feed following the game was filled with fans hoping for the best. Then, Adam Lowry scored for the win. Suddenly it was the Blues players being excoriated online. 'Blues fan here. It was never in doubt. This is what St. Louis does.' 'There is a golden rule to live by the St. Louis Blues suck just like the whole city of St. Louis.' 'So happy to see St. Louis blues lose, I hate St. Louis and loved watching that choke job.' Weekday Mornings A quick glance at the news for the upcoming day. 'Nothing beats the playoff tradition of a St. Louis Blues 1st round exit…' To be fair, not all of it was hate. But far, far too much was. It's hard enough to play professional hockey in a hard-core hockey town — the pressure of playing in a city like Toronto or Montreal has made more than a few players buckle under just the media glare, and Winnipeg is no different. But it's particularly so with the new world of social media, where everyone, however petty and small, becomes an armchair expert in hockey with the ability to reach right into a player's phone. It's just another example of the way social media, a great tool to share information quickly and easily, has collapsed under the sheer weight of the hate it more often spreads.
Yahoo
28-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Jets goalie Hellebuyck expects to bounce back in Game 5: ‘I am going to be better'
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 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. Advertisement 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. Advertisement 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.' Advertisement 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: and
