Connor Hellebuyck won his debut for the Devils on Tuesday night. New Jersey beat the Stars 5-1 in Dallas, its fourth straight win. Nico Hischier scored twice. The Associated Press reported that Hellebuyck, a three-time Vezina Trophy winner, started four days after Winnipeg traded him. That followed his suspension for failing to report to training camp. The reporting we have doesn't say why the trade was made.
The outlets split on the save count. The AP and Yahoo's recap had 16 saves on 17 shots, and one Deadspin version agreed. Sportsnet and two other Deadspin versions said 17 saves, and Sportsnet put it at 17 of 18. Our box score has 16 saves on 17 shots for a .941 save percentage, with Dallas's team shot total also at 17. The season line in our player table is 17 of 18 (.944), so the two records of the same game differ by one shot. Every outlet agrees he allowed one goal. Yahoo and the AP both said it came in the second period, and the box score matches that. Justin Hryckowian scored it.
New Jersey outshot Dallas 27-17 and led 1-0 after the first. It scored three times in the second period and once in the third. Hischier's two goals took him to seven this season, with nine points in 12 games. Jesper Boqvist, Jack Hughes and Luke Hughes also scored. The Devils had three power plays and didn't convert any. Dallas took five penalties for 21 minutes. Jamie Benn had 17 of those, and the Stars never had a power play. Casey DeSmith stopped 22 of 27 in goal for Dallas.
The win moved New Jersey to 8-4, second in the Metropolitan Division. It follows a 4-1 win over Anaheim on Oct. 22 and a 3-1 win over Los Angeles on Oct. 24. The Devils have allowed one goal in each of the last three games. Hellebuyck is 1-0 for the Devils with a 1.00 goals-against average. Last season he went 23-23-11 with a 2.86 GAA and a .895 save percentage in 57 games, after a 47-win, .925 season in 2024-25. One start is far too small a sample to say which of those he resembles.
Dallas is 7-4, third in the Central, and has lost one straight. The Stars beat the Islanders 6-3 on Sunday and Winnipeg 3-2 on Oct. 22, so this was a one-off rather than a slide. Winnipeg is 4-5, seventh in the Central, and has lost two in a row. It lost 5-1 to Florida on the same night and plays at Tampa Bay on Thursday.
Hellebuyck's second start could come right away, because New Jersey plays at Colorado on Wednesday, Oct. 28. None of the reporting says who will start. The Devils then play at Vegas on Friday. Dallas hosts Montreal on Thursday.
Discussion