Winnipeg Jets Have Issues Winning on the Road in the Playoffs

The Winnipeg Jets are the definition of Jekyll and Hyde. Winnipeg plays great on home ice, with a 6-1 record at Canadian Tire Center. However, the Jets on the road are 0-5 in the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs. It is quite mindboggling.

How could the Presidents’ Trophy-winning team, which was so good on home ice and the road in the regular season, be so inept in the Stanley Cup Playoffs? There has to be something to do it right?

If you look at their regular-season numbers, the Winnipeg Jets were 30-7-4 on home ice and 26-15 on the road. The Jets’ defensive hockey style throughout the regular season was a big reason for their success.

Winnipeg never got rattled by anything that came their way. The Jets always played a patient road game, capitalizing on their chances. Not to mention, two-time Vezina-winning goaltender Connor Hellebuyck played at such a high level that he made the big saves in the big moments of games. Or as the coaches like to say, he made the timely saves.

If you dive deeper into the numbers, thanks to StatMuse.com, the Winnipeg Jets scored 139 goals and only gave up 80 on home ice for a differential of +59. On the road, the Jets scored 136 goals but gave up 110 for a differential of +26.

However, something switches in the playoffs, and the Jets are not the same team. Again, according to StatMuse.com, the Jets’ all-time road record, playoffs and regular season combined, is 431-475-19-94. They have scored 2,751 goals and given up 3,231 for a differential of -480. Maybe there is something to their road struggles.

It dates back to the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs, after Connor Hellebuyck stood on his head and stole Game 1 of Round 1 against the Vegas Golden Knights, the Winnipeg Jets have lost nine straight road playoff games.

This includes loses in Games 2 and 5 in 2023 to Vegas, both road games (Games 3 and 4) to the Colorado Avalanche in 2024, Games 3, 4, and 6 to the St. Louis Blues in Round 1 in 2025, and Games 3 and 4 in Round 2 against the Dallas Stars.

Winnipeg Jets: Winnipeg Jets Have A Connor Hellebuyck Problem

Carolina Hurricanes: Andrei Svechnikov Delivering for the Carolina Hurricanes

Toronto Maple Leafs: Toronto Maple Leafs Continue To Fold Under the Pressure

Philadelphia Flyers: NHL Rumors: Rick Tocchet is a Wanted Man

But the bigger number to look at is Hellebuyck’s save percentage. He had a .927 save percentage on home ice. However, on the road it dropped to a .903 save percentage. That is a huge difference. There is a reason why the Jets are struggling on the road come playoff time.

And the statistics are just ugly, too. This season, the Jets are 0-5 and have been outscored 25-8, a differential of -17. Hellebuyck is 0-5 with a 5.84 goals-against average and a .793 save percentage.

This postseason, combined home and road, Hellebuyck has a 3.48 goals against average and a .851 save percentage. That is not good enough to win on the road or even in the playoffs.

The Jets are where they are because of Hellebuyck’s play on home ice. He has a save percentage of .913 and a goals against average of 1.72.

Credit to EDL Analytics who on Twitter created a couple of tables to show his performance splits He has a total 2.65 GSAx at home and -11.28 GSAx when away, with 0 away starts with positive GSAx.

He has to be this good for the Jets to force a Game 7 back in Winnipeg. He can’t give up the game’s first shot and force his teammates to chase the game.

This is not all on Hellebuyck, but he can’t give up the first goal. However, his teammates in front of him have to help him out. As some have noted, it is a lazy narrative, but what changes for this team on the road? Do they rely on their goalie that much?

The Jets played two decent road games in Dallas this series. Hellebuyck played better in Game 4 than in Game 3, but mental lapses and letting things snowball have hurt the Jets on the road this postseason.

Head coach Scott Arniel has to get his players to believe and have the right mindset that, as they do on home ice, they can overcome anything to keep their season alive.

The Winnipeg Jets’ performance on home ice compared to their performance on the road in the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs is truly mind-boggling.