Rangers face tall task against Connor Hellebuyck-led Jets: ‘Top dogs’
NY Post
In the eyes of Peter Laviolette, this isn’t a fortuitous tear. This is just who the Winnipeg Jets are — the “top dogs,” he said.
The Jets have sprinted out to a scorching 14-1-0 start, the best 15-game opening act in NHL history, entering Tuesday night’s showdown with the Rangers at the Garden.
Connor Hellebuyck’s numbers — a 1.83 goals against average and a .935 save percentage — are somehow better, at least for now, than the goaltender’s Vezina-winning season last year.
Their offense has accounted for the most goals in the NHL. Their blueline and Hellebuyck have anchored a defense that has surrendered the second fewest.
“I think it’s justified,” Laviolette said. “Their record, there’s no fluke to that. So for us, it’ll be a great test, great challenge. We’re playing the best team in the league right now.”
Just about everything has gone right for the Jets, starting with Hellebuyck. And despite a 9-3-1 record, plenty has seemingly gone wrong for the Rangers as they shuffle lines and defensive pairings and struggle to prevent their goaltenders from getting peppered with shots.
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