The St. Louis Blues fans began chanting his name: “Connor, Connor, Connor.”
One problem: Connor Hellebuyck was playing goalie for the visiting Winnipeg Jets.
And those chants about sum up the nightmare that Hellebuyck’s postseason has been, not just this season but in the years before.
He’s the best goalie on the planet during the regular season.
Somehow, he crumbles during the playoffs.
Hellebuyck gave up four goals just in the second period on Friday night to earn his third pull just in road games this series.
There’s nothing scarier for the Jets than a playoff road game. Here’s a stat from SportsNet:
“Connor Hellebuck is the third goalie in Stanley Cup playoff history to allow 4+ goals in 7 straight road games.”
MORE: Paige Bueckers has a strong WNBA debut in preseason
Somebody get this man some home cooking immediately.
It’s honestly pretty heartbreaking to watch.
A great goaltender can be a perfect scene during the hockey postseason. A locked-in goalie is great theater, because it seems like they may never be beaten.
And then there’s the opposite, Hellebuyck can’t stop anything. He’s left the Winnipeg coaches in an incredibly tough spot. How do they bench the guy who brought them this far in Game 7?
But how do you do anything else given that Hellebuyck is mired in the worst stretch of his career? Hopefully whoever follows him can push the Jets onward, and then maybe he’d have the chance for a bounceback in his future.
MORE: Syracuse lacrosse pulls program-defining win of two-time defending champs
