WINNIPEG – The chant rang out loud and clear at Canada Life Centre: “M-V-P! M-V-P!”
And on Friday night, Connor Hellebuyck delivered a performance that lived up to the roar.
The Winnipeg Jets netminder turned back 21 shots in a rock-solid, 4-0 shutout of the Dallas Stars in Game 2 of the Western Conference Second Round, slamming the door on one of the NHL’s most dangerous offenses and tying the series at 1-1.
It was Hellebuyck’s first playoff shutout since 2021, but you’d never know it by the way he moved — calm, composed, and downright dominant.
“I like where we’re at,” Hellebuyck said postgame. “We’re going to have fun — and just keep having fun.”
Fun? He made it look effortless.
Jets Jump Early, Hellebuyck Handles the Rest
Winnipeg got on the board early thanks to a Stars double-minor for high-sticking, and once they had the lead, it was all about protecting it — and Hellebuyck was the last line of defense every time Dallas made a push.
The Stars came hard in the second, but Hellebuyck stood tall, flashing the leather and shutting down Dadonov, Benn, and Lyubushkin in a furious nine-minute stretch.
“He makes the tough ones look easy,” said Jets blueliner Josh Morrissey, who returned from injury. “When he’s locked in like that, we feed off it.”
Full Roster, Full Confidence
Friday also marked the first time since Game 71 of the regular season that Winnipeg had a full, healthy lineup. With Morrissey back on the blue line and the top lines rolling, the Jets brought a balanced, two-way effort — and when they faltered, Hellebuyck cleaned up the mess.
“For 51 minutes we were real sharp,” said coach Scott Arniel. “In that nine-minute stretch where we lost puck control, Hellebuyck bailed us out.”
Dallas Denied, But Not Defeated
The Stars, led by Matt Duchene and Mikko Rantanen, couldn’t crack Hellebuyck despite a few golden chances. After Rantanen’s Game 1 hat trick, he was held off the scoresheet entirely in Game 2, stifled by a Jets defense that tightened up across the board.
“We had chances, but he was great,” Duchene admitted. “It wasn’t our A-game, but one or two go in, it’s a different story.”
Still, Dallas heads home with the series tied and Game 3 set for Sunday at 4:30 p.m. ET at American Airlines Center — a critical swing game for both clubs.
Playoff Vintage Hellebuyck: Just What the Jets Needed
After an up-and-down first round, including struggles on the road, Hellebuyck looks like he’s found his form — and his swagger.
“We’re still playing hockey and it’s May. That’s fun,” Hellebuyck smiled. “You dial your game in all year for this.”
With a shutout now in his pocket and his team back on even footing, the Jets have life — and they’ve got their MVP between the pipes, dialed in and having a blast.
