The Winnipeg Jets opened this season without the best goaltender in the world, with Connor Hellebuyck suspended for refusing to report to camp and no resolution in sight. The assumption was that it would hurt. Stuart Skinner has spent four games quietly dismantling that idea.
Wednesday was his best night yet. Skinner stopped 32 of 34 shots as Winnipeg beat the Colorado Avalanche 3-2, taking first star and collecting his first home win as a Jet.
Seventeen of those saves came in the opening period alone, against a team that had scored at will through its first two games. He robbed Nazem Kadri from close range, then denied Martin Necas on a one-timer. The one everybody has been replaying came shortly afterwards, when he stopped Gabriel Landeskog‘s shot, scrambled across and got an arm on Necas’ follow-up.
Skinner’s own explanation was all about structure rather than heroics.
“Obviously, they have a ton of speed. They’re very good on the rush, they’re good everywhere. They’re a very talented team,” Skinner said, per NHL.com. “Especially when they get on the power play, it was very crucial that we were able to get out of that one. And just the fashion that we were able to stay out of the box all night was huge.”
How are the Jets doing without Connor Hellebuyck?
Kyle Connor scored the winner against Colorado with a minute left, his fifth goal in four games, which ties him for the NHL lead. Skinner has taken the bulk of the work in net alongside Clay Stevenson, and the drop-off nobody could see a way around hasn’t materialized. Winnipeg sits 3-0-1 with three straight wins.
What’s striking is who’s cheering. Skinner spent two seasons as the most second-guessed goaltender in hockey in Edmonton, and the reaction to Wednesday suggests a lot of people outside Manitoba are enjoying this.
“I can’t recall the last time I saw a player have so many neutral fans rooting for him. I love it for him,” one wrote.
“Those saves were fantastic. I’m all for a Skinner redemption arc,” another said.
“I’m not a Jets fan, but man, I’m a Stu fan. Hope he has an unreal season,” a third added.
READ MORE: Pierre LeBrun has shut down the Hellebuyck speculation
There’s an awkward symmetry to where Skinner came from. The Edmonton Oilers gave up on him last December, sending him to Pittsburgh in the deal that brought Tristan Jarry the other way, and he signed a two-year, $7.5 million contract with Winnipeg on July 1. Edmonton has since allowed 14 goals in three games, and plenty of their supporters have spent the past week hoping Hellebuyck might somehow end up there.
Hellebuyck, meanwhile, remains suspended without pay. Pierre LeBrun reported this week that he won’t waive his no-move clause for any Canadian team, which rules out all seven of them, while Carolina and Buffalo wait without feeling much pressure to raise their offers.
Skinner finished Wednesday with a .941 save percentage on the night, his best mark of the season so far.
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