The Winnipeg Jets are trailing the Colorado Avalanche 2-1 in their best-of-seven first-round series. The difference right now is the goaltending. Alexandar Georgiev is outplaying Connor Hellebuyck, and for the Jets to win this series, they need Hellebuyck to improve and play better.
Entering the series, as documented on Full Press Hockey in our Western Conference First Round Preview, the Jets had better goaltending than Colorado. Especially the way Georgiev and the Avalanche finished the season.
Hellebuyck, who was the target of trade talks in the summer signed a new deal right before the season buying into the Jets philosophy. You could see his attitude change on the ice as Hellebuyck is the presumed Vezina Trophy winner this season. He won the Jennings Memorial Trophy as the Jets gave up the fewest goals in the NHL this season.
Hellebuyck had the numbers to back it up. In 60 starts, Hellebuyck had a record of 37-19-4 with a 2.39 goals against average, a .921 save percentage, and five shutouts. More is expected of you in the Stanley Cup Playoffs with numbers like that.
Unfortunately for Hellebuyck and the Jets, his past playoff performances speak volumes. In his last seven playoff appearances over the past two seasons, Connor Hellebuyck is 1-6 with a 4.48 goals against average and a .874 save percentage. That is not good enough.
Last year, in a five-game series against the Vegas Golden Knights, Hellebuyck gave up 18 goals. Through three games in this series against the Colorado Avalanche, He has given up 15 goals. This is simply not good enough, especially when his team needed the big saves.
Through two periods in Game 3, Hellebuyck stopped 25 of the 27 shots faced, but in the third period, the Avalanche scored four goals on 14 shots as part of a five-goal third period. For a Jets team that takes pride in giving up the fewest goals, their structure and goaltender have let them down.
Head coach Rick Bowness is staying with Hellebuyck for Game 4 and the rest of the series. He made that clear when speaking with the media.
“It’s Connor Hellebuyck’s net,” Bowness told reporters in Denver after the Jets practiced briefly at Ball Arena on Saturday.
Along with the poor numbers, Hellebuyck ranks last amongst goalies in the first round with a .890 save percentage at five-on-five play. Georgiev has a .897 save percentage at five-on-five, but he is making timely saves that are not hurting his team.
After that dismal performance in Game 1, Georgiev has settled in. Not to mention, Colorado is protecting him as it did with Darcy Kuemper in 2022. But Georgiev is outplaying Hellebuyck through three games. Especially the last two games.
In the 6-2 Avalanche victory, he stopped 22 of 24 shots faced. In the last two games, Georgiev has given up four goals on 54 shots over the past two games. Both have been Avalanche victories. One goalie was able to shake off that wild and whacky Game 1 performance, while the other has not.
You trace this back to his Game 1 performance against Colorado. It did not start off well for Hellebuyck giving up the first goal. He did settle in stopping 22 of 25 shots through two periods. But with the Jets up 6-3 midway through the third period, the Avalanche continued to pepper Hellebuyck and he allowed 3 goals on 21 shots as the Jets hung on to win 7-6.
The Jets should have won Game 1 going away and with ease. It was a reminder of what we see in 2022 in the second round between the Edmonton Oilers and Calgary Flames. Jacob Markstrom was dialed in and the Flames were in cruise control up 6-2, but the Oilers stuck around to tie it at 6-6. Calgary did pull away to win 9-6, but Markstrom’s confidence was gone.
Markstrom was never the same goalie since. He struggled in the 22-23 season and it was only until the 23-24 season when Markstrom gained his confidence and form back. You can see the same thing happening in this series. Hellebuyck just looks off and it started in Game 1.
If Connor Hellebuyck cannot refind his form, the Jets are heading for another early playoff exit. Something that was not expected, especially how Winnipeg was determined not to have a similar playoff performance as last season.
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