Connor Hellebuyck shines in Devils debut, stopping 17 shots in 5-1 win over Dallas Stars

By Vancouver Television Sports Desk

Connor Hellebuyck wasted little time making his New Jersey Devils debut count. The three-time Vezina Trophy winner started in goal for the first time with his new club and made 17 saves as the Devils defeated the Dallas Stars 5-1 at American Airlines Center on Tuesday.

The appearance came less than a week after New Jersey completed a trade with the Winnipeg Jets to acquire Hellebuyck. NHL.com reported that the Devils sent forwards Dawson Mercer and Nick Bjugstad, goalie Nico Daws, the rights to forward Alexander Command, plus a second-round pick in the 2029 NHL Draft and a seventh-round pick in the 2027 NHL Draft, in exchange for the goaltender.

Hellebuyck’s first game with the Devils also aligned with the end of a suspension. NHL.com noted that the trade arrived on Friday, the same day his suspension—scheduled to conclude after beginning Sept. 16—was set to end. As a result, Tuesday’s start served as his season debut.

In the first moments of his Devils arrival, Hellebuyck’s response to a question about the national anthem underscored how long he had been waiting to step into a game. Asked what was going through his head during the anthem, NHL.com reported that Hellebuyck answered with a single word: “Finally.”

Following the game, Hellebuyck described his mindset and readiness. According to NHL.com, he said, “If you asked me, I was ready two months ago,” and added that he had carried “the mindset since the day I got here that I want to get in.” Those comments came as the Devils turned the puck-handling and early reads of their new starting goaltender into a noticeable part of the game’s tone.

Devils captain Nico Hischier said Hellebuyck made an immediate impact during the contest. NHL.com reported Hischier telling the team’s media setting that Hellebuyck “came in and was making plays everywhere,” while also “spread this calmness out.” Hischier also emphasized the goaltender’s ability to deliver key stops in situations that can shift momentum, concluding that it was “great to have him on our team.”

New Jersey head coach Sheldon Keefe similarly credited Hellebuyck’s performance in his first start. NHL.com reported Keefe saying, “I thought he was exceptional,” and highlighted puck-handling as the potential area that could be challenging early on. Keefe noted that while Hellebuyck likes to touch the puck and is “really good at it,” that component “usually take[s] a lot of time under pressure,” before adding that he “thought he was great.”

A major theme of Hellebuyck’s debut, as described by NHL.com, was how active he was early in coming out of his net to play the puck. That trend carried through the game, with Hellebuyck continuing to make himself available for defensive plays as New Jersey worked to keep Dallas outside its most dangerous looks.

Hellebuyck discussed the thinking behind his puck management after the win. NHL.com reported him saying he believed the group in front of him played “a perfect game for me to get acclimated,” and described their defensive structure as limiting the number of shots and blocking routes while keeping play to the outside. He also explained that, beyond practicing puck touches, the game requires immediate decisions—“checking and having a play already picked before you even get the puck”—which he said he tried to work on by touching the puck “as many times as I can.”

Defenceman Johnathan Kovacevic pointed to the way Hellebuyck’s approach can reduce pressure in front of the net. NHL.com reported Kovacevic saying Hellebuyck was “just so solid back there, so sound,” and that playing the puck “takes a lot of pressure off us.” Kovacevic added that New Jersey tried to “make it easy on him,” noting Dallas generated some looks from the slot and close range but that Hellebuyck “came up huge,” calling it “an awesome first game.”

The statistical picture of the win supported the praise. NHL.com reported that the Devils limited the Stars to 18 shots on goal, a total tied for New Jersey’s fewest shots against of the season. While that defensive restraint was important, the game also demanded timely saves, and NHL.com credited Hellebuyck with being present each time Dallas had to turn its chances into traction.

According to NHL.com, the only goal Hellebuyck allowed came at 16:08 of the second period. The score resulted from a redirection involving Justin Hryckowian, which cut New Jersey’s lead to 3-1. Beyond that, the Devils continued to control the matchup and maintained enough separation to push the game to a decisive final.

As the Devils moved through the immediate aftermath, the focus shifted to what comes next on a challenging stretch of road hockey. NHL.com reported that New Jersey’s schedule includes a visit to the Colorado Avalanche on Wednesday before continuing on to face the Vegas Golden Knights on Friday.

Hellebuyck framed the next phase as refining details and sharpening the small elements needed to play at full rhythm. NHL.com reported him saying he has been doing the work “for a while,” and attributed his comfort to New Jersey’s play in front of him, saying he was “really never worried” because the team “didn’t have any breakdowns.” He also referenced minor mistakes he made—“a couple minor mistakes that you guys wouldn’t even know if I told you”—as part of getting past “rust.”