Jets' Connor Hellebuyck: Holds on for shootout win

Hellebuyck saved 28 of 32 shots on net in Saturday's 5-4 shootout win over the Blackhawks.

Saturday's performance was out of character for Hellebuyck, who has allowed four goals or more just eight times across 62 appearances this season. He allowed a shorthanded marker and a power-play goal in the first period before surrendering two more tallies late in the third frame. After Josh Morrissey tied the game to send it to overtime, Hellebuyck took care of business in the extra frame before stopping two attempts in the shootout en route to the victory. The 31-year-old netminder is up to a 46-12-3 record with a 2.02 GAA and a .924 save percentage this year. Hellebuyck is as close to a shoo-in for the Vezina Trophy as a goaltender can be, as he is on pace to finish the season as the third netminder in NHL history to top the league in wins, save percentage, GAA and shutouts. Hellebuyck probably won't play in Sunday's home game versus Edmonton, and it remains to be seen if he'll get the nod for Winnipeg's regular-season finale in Anaheim on Monday. Although the 31-year-old hasn't been kept out of the net for back-to-back games all season, the Jets might opt to make an exception to allow him to get plenty of rest ahead of what they hope will be a deep playoff run.