Jets' Hellebuyck stands tall in win over Predators
Despite being outshot 24-6, the Winnipeg Jets had a 2-0 lead over the Nashville Predators less than nine minutes into the second period, but the heavy workload hardly bothered their rookie goaltender.
Connor Hellebuyck made a career-high 43 saves - with shot No. 42 the only one finding the back of the net - as the Jets went on to win 4-1 on Tuesday. The 22-year-old now has nine wins since Ondrej Pavelec went down with an injury on Nov. 21.
#NHLJets Connor Hellebuyck has allowed 2 or fewer goals against in 9 of his 13 career starts.
— Sportsnet Stats (@SNstats) January 6, 2016
Drew Stafford scored two early goals for Winnipeg, while Ben Chiarot scored his first of the season off the stick of Predators defenseman Mattias Ekholm. Alex Burmistrov rounded out the scoring for Winnipeg with an empty-netter.
Nashville's lone goal was scored by Colin Wilson, who now has three goals in his past seven games after finding the net just once in his first 27. Meanwhile, Pekka Rinne struggled, allowing three goals on 17 shots in the losing effort.
Hellebuyck and the Jets will have another chance to gain ground in the Central when they wrap up their five-game road trip against the Dallas Stars on Thursday.