Connor Hellebuyck's return to Winnipeg will be much more anticlimactic than initially expected.
The New Jersey Devils announced Sunday that the former Jets goalie won't start Tuesday's game in Winnipeg. It will be Hellebuyck's first time at Canada Life Centre as a visiting player following October's trade.
"This has been an organizational decision for us that we've debated at length," Devils general manager Sunny Mehta said in a statement. "Connor Hellebuyck was adamant that he felt a duty to play on Tuesday in Winnipeg. However, in our estimation, playing in this game would potentially give us a reduction in our expected win probability."
Tuesday marks New Jersey's only visit to Winnipeg this season.
Hellebuyck said he's "disappointed" he won't be able to "face the music" in Winnipeg, according to TSN's Chris Johnston.
"It's out of my hands," he said.
