Jets, Avs goalies reset after wild Winnipeg win in series opener
Connor Hellebuyck made sure he did one important thing while winding down Sunday after the Winnipeg Jets beat the Colorado Avalanche 7-6 in Game 1 of their first-round playoff series.
The favourite to win this season's Vezina Trophy as the NHL's top goalie made sure his recovery included replenishing his fluids.
"That was probably one of the most sweatiest games I've played in this league," Hellebuyck said before skipping the team's Monday optional skate at Canada Life Centre ahead of Game 2 on Tuesday.
"So there's a few extra things I had to do. But for the most part, it was just slowly winding down and watching highlights or some other games, see what's going on around the league and just relaxing."
Hellebuyck didn't have much time to relax in the first game of the Western Conference best-of-seven series. He faced 46 shots, compared to Avalanche goalie Alexandar Georgiev's 23.
The teams combined for six goals in the first period and six in the third. It's the second game in Stanley Cup playoff history to feature two teams combining for at least six goals in multiple periods.
Hellebuyck said he tried to stay on an even keel after the frenzy of the opening period.
Colorado was outshooting the Jets 10-1 before Avalanche forward Valeri Nichushkin fired the puck over the goalie's blocker at 6:10 to give the visitors a 1-0 lead.
"I've been in this league long enough it's going to be, 'I need to stop one more than the other guy.' I turn my mindset to that," Hellebuyck said.
"Our offence was buzzing, we scored seven. That's an incredible feeling and our crowd was absolutely insane. What more could you ask for out of a playoff hockey game?"
Georgiev was brief after the game when analyzing how he had played.
"(The Jets) scored some really good goals, a couple lucky ones," he said. "You have to stay positive and try to find out what happened today and move forward. It's only 1-0 in the series so I'm looking forward to the next game."
Winnipeg's seven goals tied a franchise playoff record for most in a game.
Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar said postgame that Georgiev's performance "probably needed to be better."
On Monday, the coach said Georgiev and his teammates need a bounce-back mindset for Game 2.
"It's going to be about mental toughness, right? Not just for him, for our group," Bednar said. "As positive as I'm going to be up here and sitting up here, we didn't win the hockey game. But you have to be able to reset."
Avalanche backup netminder Justus Annunen missed Sunday's game because he was ill. He was still sick on Monday and wasn't at the rink.
Arvid Holm, who's never played an NHL game, backed up Georgiev. The Swedish netminder got into 12 games this season with the American Hockey League's Colorado Eagles. He played two seasons with Winnipeg's AHL Manitoba Moose affiliate (2021-23). The Jets drafted him in 2017 (167th overall).
Hellebuyck claimed the Vezina in 2020 and was a finalist last year and in 2018.
He played 60 games this past regular season, registering a 37-19-4 record, 2.39 goals-against average and .921 save percentage.
Avalanche forward Zach Parise is very familiar with Hellebuyck's skills over the course of his 19-season NHL career. He spent nine seasons with Minnesota, including 2017-18 when Hellebuyck and the Jets bounced the Wild out of the playoffs in five games of the opening round.
"From the numbers that (Hellebuyck has) put up this year, he had a great season," Parise said Monday. "We knew going into the series that will be a great challenge."
The approach to beating him is the same as with other goalies in the league, added Parise, who confirmed this month he was retiring after the playoffs.
"As far as rattling (Hellebuyck), you just try to get bodies around there and traffic and make him uncomfortable," he said.
BOTH SIDES LIKED THE "WHITEOUT"
Forward Tyler Toffoli joined the Jets at the trade deadline from the New Jersey Devils and experienced his first Winnipeg playoff game Sunday, with its white-clad, roaring sold-out crowd and thousands of similar fans partying outside.
He even looked up at the video scoreboard at the start of the game and saw two fighter jets flying over Winnipeg's downtown.
"With the planes flying over, I didn't think it was actually real. I thought it was a video, you know?" Toffoli said. "That was sweet. So, hopefully we can keep the energy up and get a couple more wins."
Bednar also soaked up the atmosphere from the visitors' bench.
"I hadn't been in a playoff atmosphere here yet and that's as good as it gets," Bednar said. "It's a whiteout, the fans are chanting and going crazy and you can feel the energy on the bench.
"It gave me goosebumps as a coach and I think the players were all feeling the same thing and it just forces you to bring your best."
This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 22, 2024.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Potential tornado 'surreal' for residents who witnessed damaging storm in southern Ontario
Witnessing a potential tornado was 'surreal' for residents who caught a glimpse of the damaging storm in southern Ontario on Wednesday night.
Was this the bug that stung you? Wasp sightings revive murder-hornet concerns; no detections confirmed
As temperatures rise out of a mild El Nino winter, Canada's buggy season is already upon us again, and this year, the bugs are looking especially big.
Minister tables bill to extend citizenship rights to children born abroad
Immigration Minister Marc Miller tabled legislation today that is intended to extend citizenship to some children born outside of the country.
WestJet planning new fare category for travellers willing to forgo carry-on bag
WestJet Airlines plans to launch a new cheaper fare category that would be available to travellers willing to fly without a carry-on bag.
Hundreds have applied for this 'adventurer' job in Banff National Park
Coined as Banff's 'ultimate summer job,' the Moraine Lake Bus Company says hundreds of people from across the world have applied for its adventurer position.
'We'll need all hands on deck': Details emerge after deadly boat crash near Kingston, Ont.
Police say they have wrapped up their on-scene investigation into a deadly boat crash in eastern Ontario as details of the incident begin to emerge.
Jennifer Lopez's response to question about Ben Affleck is a reminder of their decades of love in the spotlight
Plenty of people are wondering if Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck are having problems in their marriage, but one person had the nerve to ask in a public forum.
U.S. Justice Department says illegal monopoly by Ticketmaster and Live Nation drives up prices for fans
The U.S. Justice Department filed a sweeping antitrust lawsuit against Ticketmaster and parent company Live Nation Entertainment on Thursday, accusing them of running an illegal monopoly over live events in America -- squelching competition and driving up prices for fans.
Adding just 10% ultraprocessed foods to healthy diets may raise risk of cognitive decline, stroke
Eating more ultraprocessed foods is linked to a higher risk of cognitive decline and stroke, even if a person is trying to adhere to a Mediterranean diet, the DASH diet or the MIND diet, a new study found.