Connor Hellebuyck recorded 35 saves to post back-to-back shutouts for the first time in his career, Gabriel Vilardi provided the offense and the Winnipeg Jets posted a 1-0 victory over the visiting Colorado Avalanche on Thursday night.
Two days after Hellebuyck stopped 21 shots in a 3-0 home victory over Utah, the two-time Vezina Trophy winner was even better. The 10-year veteran was at his best in the third, when he made 17 saves and helped stave off an Avalanche six-on-four advantage in the final 70 seconds.
He recorded his 40th career shutout — and third of the season — while pacing the Jets to a fifth consecutive victory and a 13-1-0 start.
The Jets join the 2007-08 Ottawa Senators as the only teams to record 26 points through the first 14 games.
Meanwhile, Colorado’s Alexandar Georgiev, who entered with a 4.62 goals-against average and was making his first start since Oct. 28, was exceptional with 27 saves. His only blemish came right out of the gate.
Just 1:06 in, Avalanche defenseman Josh Manson couldn’t maintain the puck on the sideboard. Winnipeg’s Mark Scheifele controlled it, then surged toward the net, eventually making it a two-on-one with Vilardi, who converted to extend his point streak to six games and post his fifth goal in six games.
Colorado stepped up its offensive pressure in the second, but Hellebuyck stood tall, including a three-second stretch where he stopped back-to-back Chris Wagner shots and another poke from Calvin de Haan.
Hellebuyck continued his stellar play early in the third. After stopping Devon Toews’ slap shot, Hellebuyck extended his blocker to brilliantly thwart Cale Makar on the rebound and invoke chants of “Connor, “Connor,” from the home crowd.
Georgiev might have recorded the save of the night, sliding over to catch Nikolaj Ehlers’ net-front wrist shot that looked destined for the back of the net with 5:23 left.
Colorado has lost four of its last five after a five-game win streak.
–Field Level Media
