Connor Hellebuyck Struggles Continue as Playoffs Tie at 2-2

Connor Hellebuyck, widely regarded as one of the NHL's best regular-season goaltenders and a multiple-time Vezina Trophy winner, is again facing criticism for his playoff performances. Despite leading the Winnipeg Jets to a stellar regular season and earning another Vezina nomination, Hellebuyck has struggled in the 2025 playoffs, with poor save percentages and being pulled from consecutive games as the series against the St. Louis Blues became tied. Analysts and the Jets' coach attribute his struggles to both his own performance drop and defensive lapses by the team, as the Blues have effectively disrupted Winnipeg's defense and limited Hellebuyck's visibility. This pattern continues a trend of Hellebuyck's underwhelming postseason outings compared to his regular-season dominance, raising concerns about the Jets' ability to capitalize on their top seed without stronger goaltending in critical games.