Rangers face tall task against Connor Hellebuyck-led Jets: ‘Top dogs’
Published Nov. 12, 2024, 8:00 a.m. ET
In the eyes of Peter Laviolette, this isn’t a fortuitous tear. This is just who the Winnipeg Jets are — the “top dogs,” he said.
The Jets have sprinted out to a scorching 14-1-0 start, the best 15-game opening act in NHL history, entering Tuesday night’s showdown with the Rangers at the Garden.
Connor Hellebuyck’s numbers — a 1.83 goals against average and a .935 save percentage — are somehow better, at least for now, than the goaltender’s Vezina-winning season last year.
Their offense has accounted for the most goals in the NHL. Their blueline and Hellebuyck have anchored a defense that has surrendered the second fewest.
“I think it’s justified,” Laviolette said. “Their record, there’s no fluke to that. So for us, it’ll be a great test, great challenge. We’re playing the best team in the league right now.”
Just about everything has gone right for the Jets, starting with Hellebuyck. And despite a 9-3-1 record, plenty has seemingly gone wrong for the Rangers as they shuffle lines and defensive pairings and struggle to prevent their goaltenders from getting peppered with shots.
So when asked if Tuesday’s game serves as a measuring stick, forward Mika Zibanejad told The Post “possibly.”
Winnipeg will test the Rangers’ work in areas they’re aiming to improve, will challenge their quest to not deviate from core principles and will mark their latest chance for an early season statement win after they failed to secure one in an Eastern Conference Final rematch against the Panthers last month.
This time, the Blueshirts have a chance to help prevent history from continuing.
“Over the years as a player you’ve faced those types of challenges before,” Zibanejad said after practice Monday in Tarrytown. “We had other teams with records that come into our building and obviously we don’t want to add to it, so from there, it’s just go play.”
Just as Igor Shesterkin remains at the center of the Rangers’ operation, Hellebuyck has filled a similar role with the Jets.
He won the second Vezina Trophy of his career last year, and through his first 12 starts this season, Hellebuyck has already shut out an opponent four times and allowed more than three goals in a game just twice.