Jets’ inconsistency crushed them during playoff run

The Winnipeg Jets saw their season end on Saturday with a 2-1 overtime loss to the Dallas Stars, eliminating the Presidents’ Trophy winners in six games. While the team showed flashes of brilliance throughout the year, it was the postseason where they struggled to find their footing, largely due to the inconsistent play from goaltender Connor Hellebuyck.

On Monday’s episode of Daily Faceoff LIVE, Frank Seravalli and Tyler Yaremchuk discuss the Jets’ second-round loss and what comes next for Winnipeg.

Tyler Yaremchuk: Let’s talk a bit about the Jets, and we’ll start with Connor Hellebuyck. I look at the way he played in Game 6, and on one hand, he gave the Jets the kind of performance they need. On the other hand, too little too late. If Hellebuyck plays that well on the road at any other point in the series, then you might be sitting here previewing a Game 7, Frank.

Frank Seravalli: You’re right. We could go down the list and figure out all the different things that could have, would have been different. What happens if the Leafs won in overtime against the Panthers in Game 3? You ask yourself those questions to death.

In the end, I think Winnipeg’s inconsistencies on the road, all playoffs long, is what crushed them. That and how Hellebuyck was right in the center of that with really, really poor performances. He was pulled in all three road games in St. Louis.

Look, that is the $60-million question for the Jets going forward. Hellebuyck is an unbelievable regular-season goalie, but we’re going back to 2012 when Jonathan Quick was the last goalie to play 60-plus games in a regular season and win a Stanley Cup. Do we need to have that conversation? There’s lots of different things to key in on, because Hellebuyck is a Vezina Trophy and Hart Trophy finalist, but he didn’t really look good in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

You can watch the full segment and the rest of the episode here…