New Jersey Devils goaltender Connor Hellebuyck allowed one goal on 18 shots in Tuesday's contest against the Dallas Stars, earning a victory in a strong debut with his new club.
The Devils cruised to a 5-1 victory to end the Stars' five-game winning streak, with captain Nico Hischier scoring two goals.
Hellebuyck made the start after only one practice with the Devils. New Jersey acquired him from the Winnipeg Jets last week after the netminder's trade request sparked a lengthy stalemate between the two sides.
The 33-year-old was suspended for failing to report to training camp, a ban that lingered into the regular season. Before Tuesday, Hellebuyck hadn't played in a game since April 13.
Hellebuyck's 2025-26 campaign was the worst of his career, posting an .895 save percentage in 57 starts as the Jets failed to make the playoffs one season after winning the Presidents' Trophy. However, his resume before last year's struggles ranks among the best in league history for goaltenders, garnering three Vezina Trophies, an MVP, and four All-Star nominations.
New Jersey, which entered Tuesday as one of the league's top defensive teams, made Hellebuyck's debut relatively stress-free, holding the Stars to 37 shot attempts and 1.7 expected goals in all situations, according to HockeyStats.
Justin Hryckowian was the lone Star to solve Hellebuyck, snapping his shutout bid late in the second period.
