Scott Arniel: "i Am One Hundred Percent Confident In Connor Hellebuyck"

The No. 1 seed Winnipeg Jets have gone from a 2-0 opening round series lead over the St. Louis Blues to a 2-2 tie.

Thanks to two strong home performances last week, the Jets pulled out ahead with two victories in three days at Canada Life Centre.

The narrative quickly flipped, as St. Louis was able to take care of business back at Enterprise Center in Games 3 and 4.

Both games in Winnipeg were narrow victories for the home team that saw the visitors pick up leads throughout the games. In St. Louis, it was anything but.

After being shellacked 7-2 in Game 3 on Thursday night, the Jets found themselves in a familiar spot three days later.

Sunday's afternoon contest did see the Jets jump out to a 1-0 lead through the majority of the first period, with Winnipeg controlling the better part of the game. However, a late-period push from St. Louis tied the score at ones prior to the start of the second.

Things went downhill from there, and fast. The Blues ended up scoring five consecutive goals to take Game 4 by a 5-`1 final - and it wasn't close.

Connor Hellebuyck was pulled for Eric Comrie for the second-straight game, as his playoff numbers continued in their downward spiral.

After leading the NHL in wins, shutouts, goals against average and finishing second in save percentage, he has now dropped back-to-back games by way of blowout and has seen his goals against average inflate to 4.24 and his save percentage drop to .817 this postseason. 

His last three playoff years, Hellebuyck has posted goals against averages of 3.44, 5.23 and 4.24, with save percentages of .886, .870 and .817 - far from his regular season numbers.

Overall, he is 20-28 in the postseason with a 2.95 goals against average and a .906 save percentage in 49 career outings. 

Following the game, his coach Scott Arniel reassured Hellebucyk of his faith and trust, indicating his plans to start the presumed Vezina Trophy winner for Game 5 at home.

"I am one hundred percent confident in Connor Hellebuyck," Arniel said post-game.

"His resume speaks for itself. At the end of the day, we need to be better in front of him. We need to let him see some pucks. There were a couple there we didn't let him see. There's things that we have to do to help him. He knows he has to do things that help us. And that's how it's been all year long. We're all in this together."

Eleven goals against on 43 shots over five-and-a-half periods of action is far from Hellebuyck's best hockey. But his showings at Canada Life Centre for Games 1 and 2 weren't all that much better either. Sure, he held the Blues to just four goals in two games, but he was certainly beat cleanly on three of the goals scored.

"You know what, it's just a situation that we've got to put our best foot forward when we go home," Arniel added. "Like I mentioned, we worked our tails off for 82 games to get home-ice advantage. Well, it's a best-of-three now. Now we've got to make sure we take care of business."

Will there be a Game 7? It's unknown. Will there be a Game 6? Yes. So, both clubs will have an opportunity to play at least one more time in front of their home fans. Should the Presidents' Trophy-winning Jets fall on Wednesday night in Winnipeg, things could get ugly, and fast. 

“It’s a best two out of three series," Mark Scheifele said after the Jets' most recent loss. "We know we have home ice. We have two days to re-group and then back in front of our fans. It’s not what we wanted, but it’s a best two out of three series now.”

An absolutely preposterous stat:

Since Winnipeg’s opening round loss to St. Louis in 2019, the #NHLJets have yet to win a single playoff game following a loss in a playoff series (Montreal: 4-straight, Vegas: 4-straight, Colorado: 4-straight, St. Louis: 2-straight.)

— Carter Brooks (@CBrooksie84) April 27, 2025

Winnipeg, which has not recorded a single win in a series following a playoff loss since 2019, will look to buck that trend in the 8:50 PM central matchup with St. Louis on Wednesday night. That game can once again be viewed live on Sportsnet.