Devils’ GM Sunny Mehta explained on Sunday that Connor Hellebuyck would not start against the Winnipeg Jets because, in the New Jersey Devils‘ estimation, playing him would “potentially give us a reduction in our expected win probability.”
Winnipeg won 4-2 on Tuesday. The club’s social media account posted a final score graphic within seconds of the horn.
“Expected Win Probability 100%,” the Jets wrote.
The same joke went up on the jumbotron inside Canada Life Centre.
Tuesday night in Winnipeg:
| Mercer’s goals | Daws’ saves | Final score | Jets’ winning streak |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 19 | 4-2 | 4 |
What did the Devils say about Hellebuyck’s win probability?
Mehta’s statement never explained the reasoning beyond that single phrase, which is why it traveled as far as it did. Head coach Sheldon Keefe offered a separate explanation about workload, and Jake Allen got the start instead.
The scoreline wrote the punchline for them. Dawson Mercer, one of the players Winnipeg received in the Hellebuyck trade, scored twice against his former club including the winner. Nico Daws, who came over in the same deal, made 19 saves for his first win as a Jet.
It was Winnipeg’s fourth straight victory and it ended New Jersey’s five-game run, handing the Devils only their second defeat since acquiring Hellebuyck on October 23.
The crowd had been at it from warmups onwards, with chants of “coward” and “Helle sucks,” a jersey thrown onto the ice and a long run of signs. Supporters later chanted at Allen to pull himself, in the hope of forcing Hellebuyck into the game.
None of that happened in a vacuum. Hellebuyck had spent 21 minutes with reporters after the morning skate, during which he said security concerns involving his family were part of why he wanted out of Winnipeg.
Henrik Lundqvist had a view on the whole arrangement from the TNT desk.
“I would not leave that room with that GM until he says you’re playing,” Lundqvist said. “I think he earned that respect where he has that power to make that decision.”
The clubs meet again in Newark on November 28.
Read more:
