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Connor Hellebuyck has seamlessly transitioned to his new role with the New Jersey Devils, backstopping the team to victories in each of his first three appearances. The most recent win was a 4-3 shootout decision against Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday night.
In doing so, Hellebuyck etched his name into the Devils' record books, becoming the fourth goaltender in franchise history to win each of his first three games with the club. He joins John Vanbiesbrouck (four games in 2000-01), Jonathan Bernier (three games in 2021-22), and Al Smith (three games in 1980-81), according to NHL Public Relations.
The 33-year-old netminder began his Devils tenure with a 5-1 victory over the Dallas Stars on Oct. 27, followed by a 5-2 win against the Vegas Golden Knights on Oct. 30, and capped the streak with Tuesday's shootout triumph over Edmonton.
New Jersey has now won five consecutive home games, and Hellebuyck's arrival appears to have energized the roster. The Devils have emerged victorious in eight of their last 10 contests overall, elevating their record to 10-5-0 and second place in the Metropolitan Division.
"It was two really good hockey teams going at it and playing a little bit of chess at times and really laying it on the line," Hellebuyck said of Tuesday's win. "I thought the guys played really good in front of me. I mean, the second period, I think they only got (three) shots so that's almost textbook."
Hellebuyck's first two wins came on the road in Texas and Las Vegas, making Tuesday's victory his first in front of the home crowd at the Prudential Center in Newark. He finished the game with 18 saves.
With Jake Allen settling into the backup role, Hellebuyck is expected to receive the majority of starts as the Devils aim to return to the Stanley Cup Playoffs after missing out in 2025-26. Having allowed only six goals in his three starts, he appears to have quickly moved past a challenging campaign with the Winnipeg Jets in which he posted a 23-23-11 record, a 2.86 goals-against average, and a .895 save percentage.
Hellebuyck is likely to be back in net when the Devils host the St. Louis Blues on Thursday night.
Key Analysis
Hellebuyck's early success with New Jersey has provided a significant boost to a team looking to reestablish itself as a playoff contender. His ability to win games—both on the road and at home—has injected confidence into the lineup, and his historic start places him among elite company in franchise history. If he can maintain this level of play, the Devils' playoff aspirations appear well-founded.
Originally reported by yahoo.