Jets goalie Hellebuyck expects to bounce back in Game 5: ‘I am going to be better’

WINNIPEG, Manitoba (AP) Connor Hellebuyck says there is no crack in his confidence after the Winnipeg Jets goalie was pulled during his teams last two playoff losses.

Hellebuyck, who was announced Monday as a finalist for the Vezina Trophy, told reporters his mindset is good heading into Wednesdays Game 5 at home against St.

Louis.

The Blues tied the Western Conference best-of-seven opening-round series 2-2 after thumping the Jets 5-1 on Sunday and 7-2 Thursday in St.

Louis .

You dont love giving up that many goals, but were 2-2 in the series.

Thats all that matters.

Win the next one, Hellebuyck said after he and most of his teammates didnt take part in Mondays optional skate.

Am I going to be better? I am going to be better.

Ive studied goaltending extremely hard.

Ive probably studied the most out of anyone in this world, so I know what to do and how to get my best game.

So thats what Im looking forward to do.

Backup Eric Comrie replaced Hellebuyck in the third period of the past two losses and gave up one goal in Thursdays match.

Hellebuyck is up for the NHLs top goalie award with Darcy Kuemper of the Los Angeles Kings and Andrei Vasilevskiy of the Tampa Bay Lightning.

The 31-year-old from Commerce, Michigan, is the reigning Vezina Trophy winner and also claimed the honor in 2020.

He was a finalist in 2018 and 2023.

Hellebuyck posted career bests in wins (47), shutouts (eight), goals-against average (2.00) and save percentage (.925) to help Winnipeg finish the regular season with the leagues best record and gain home-ice advantage by capturing the Presidents Trophy.

It would be crazy to go that many regular-season games and then all of a sudden switch something up in the playoffs, Hellebuyck said.

You dont win 47 games and then come the playoffs switch everything up.

I know how it needs to look.

I like a lot of things.

Im not going to go and make huge changes.

Hellebuyck won a second consecutive William M.

Jennings Trophy as the goaltender (minimum of 25 games played) on the team allowing the fewest regular-season goals.

He said hes mentally prepared for whats ahead.

I think playoff time, thats one of the most important attributes you can have, is being strong between the ears, Hellebuyck said.

You dont want to go into a game playing with fear.

If you play with fear, thats when you start to actually make mistakes and want things back.

We go out, we play our game and you continue to be better every single shift, every single game and every single day.

Thats my mindset moving forward, and Im looking forward to that.

AP NHL playoffs: https://apnews.com/hub/stanley-cup and https://apnews.com/hub/nhl.

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