Winnipeg Jets’ Connor Hellebuyck needs to steal win in Game 5
As the Jets battle a multitude of injuries to key players, a lot of the reliance falls upon their elite goaltender, Connor Hellebuyck. Frank Seravalli and Mike McKenna weigh in on what the Jets and Hellebuyck need to do going into game five tonight.
Frank Seravalli: The Golden Knights have the chance to punch their ticket to the second round against a wounded Winnipeg Jets team. Not only is Josh Morrissey out, but Mark Scheifele is expected to be out as well. When you look at this Jets lineup and look at the issues they have run into on the injury front, Vegas has been able to take clear advantage of that. Do you expect the Golden Knights to close it out tonight?
Mike McKenna: Yeah, I do; I had this series going to six in Vegas’s favour. But I think it gets done tonight. You nailed a key element to this, Frank, and that’s really the health of the Jets. Vegas battled injuries for a decent chunk of the season in the second half, but they’re completely healthy now; the only play that’s really questionable is William Carrier, and Logan Thompson is still out between the pipes, but Brossoit has played very well. If Carrier draws back in, then Bruce Cassidy has to make a decision regarding who comes out of the lineup. Is it Brett Howden who scored two goals last game? Is it Ivan Barbashev? Is it Mike Amadio? I don’t know. It just shows how healthy Vegas is. I think their blueline is better in the first place; if you take Morrissey out, it’s hard for Winnipeg. Winnipeg has been chasing, they’re so focused on hitting Stone, hitting Eichel, the big dogs for Vegas, and it’s created a lot of lanes and seams and allowed for Vegas to get their rush game going, which is a big strength of theirs. Another factor is Hellebuyck; he’s got to allow two goals or less for his team to win. Down the stretch, for the last 14 games of the season, he didn’t allow more than three goals, but he only won eight of those games. In the nine games, he allowed two or less, he was 8-1, and If that’s the threshold against Vegas with how well they are playing with Stone back in the lineup as well, that’s awfully tough when you’re missing your top defenseman in Morrissey.
Frank Seravalli: It is tough. Nikolaj Ehlers is expected to play in game five, which would be a bit of a boost to the Jets. He did participate in practice wearing a regular sweater on Wednesday, so he is expected to go.
You can watch the full episode here…