Hellebuyck makes 40 saves, Stastny scores in overtime as Jets beat Habs

WINNIPEG - Connor Hellebuyck reminded the National Hockey League, and specifically the Montreal Canadiens, why he's the reigning Vezina Trophy winner on Saturday night.
The 27-year-old stopped 40 of the 41 shots that came his way as he backstopped the Winnipeg Jets to a 2-1 overtime win over the Canadiens, pushing the Jets' win streak to four straight.
His best period was the third, when the Jets were outshot 14-2 but not a single puck beat the Jets goaltender in the final 20 minutes of regulation time.
"I was able to get into a good flow," said Hellebuyck. "I thought the guys in front of me blocked a lot of key shots tonight and really controlled where the shots were coming from. Not only that, we were controlling the rebounds. The whole team's defence was very solid down the middle tonight."

If tertiary assists were kept, he might have earned one on the overtime winner. He prevented an icing by corralling the dump in and moved it to Nikolaj Ehlers in the corner.
"I didn't want that to be icing," said Hellebuyck. "That's part of our success. Everyone is on the same page."
The Jets moved it quickly from there - to Paul Stastny in the middle of the ice, to Kyle Connor up the left wing and into the Montreal zone, then ultimately back to Ehlers. One quick move opened space for Ehlers in the slot and after that snap shot squeaked through Jake Allen, Stastny tucked it home to put the game away.
"We're confident. You know how it is in this game, overtime is a crap shoot. Especially three-on-three. You may as well go out there and play aggressive," said Stastny.
"Bucky was unbelievable for us. He didn't give up a lot of rebounds. He was fighting through traffic and controlling everything. He's the reason we got the two points tonight."
Along with the assist on the overtime winner, Ehlers scored in regulation time on the power play - the seventh time in the last nine games the Jets have scored on the man advantage - to give him his sixth multi-point game of the season.
He also holds no ill will toward Stastny, who tapped the overtime winner into the empty net behind Allen as the puck dribbled on the goal line.
"I would have done the same thing for sure. Make sure it's over the line," Ehlers laughed.
It was the second straight overtime game that the Jets used three forwards. This time, it was Ehlers, Connor, and Stastny.
"It's worked the two times we've done it this year," said Ehlers. "When you have the puck it's a lot easier. I haven't experienced not having the puck in overtime when you're playing with three forwards. It's a lot of fun. No matter who you go out there with, you're going to get a chance."

Unlike in Thursday night's win over Montreal, the Jets were able to get on the board first, with the power play finding the back of the net for the third straight contest. Just over halfway through the second period, Andrew Copp won the offensive zone face-off back to Ehlers at the left point. The Danish forward stepped up in the zone and quickly snapped the shot past a screened Jake Allen for his 11th of the season.
"I love when Nik Ehlers is shooting the puck. I love when he's thinking 'don't take it down the wall, I can beat a goalie from here,'" said head coach Paul Maurice.
"Big face-off win for sure. Nik is growing into a player this year where he has true confidence with the puck and how he plays the game."
Montreal would pull even 4:35 later. Nick Suzuki's shot from below the goal line squeezed between Connor Hellebuyck and the post, with two former Jets - Joel Armia and Ben Chiarot - picking up assists.
"It was one of those goals that you could do that 99 times out of 100 and it's not going to go in. I got caught on the one, which seems to be a theme this year," said Hellebuyck. "I felt good in the game. Following that up with a save just added momentum to me. I like the way I've been playing, I like the way tonight went. I'm happy with the outcome."

That was the only puck that beat Hellebuyck. It was the 14th time since he came into the NHL in 2015-16 that he made 40 or more saves in a regular season victory, the second most in that span behind Frederik Andersen (15).
"There's a sense in our room that when Connor gives up a goal like he did, you're going to have a really hard time getting the next one," said Maurice. "There is a faith in our goaltender, and he was exceptional tonight and made some really big saves late, that if they get one like that - maybe he gets a little angry in the net - you're going to have a hard time getting that next one."
The two consecutive wins to open the four-game home stand give the Jets an 8-3-1 record at Bell MTS Place this season.
Sunday is a day off for the club before they're back in action in a back-to-back set on Monday and Tuesday against the Vancouver Canucks.
"I won't bring up tonight's game going into Vancouver," said Maurice. "We have to be a whole lot better against Vancouver than we were tonight if we expect to win the game."