Hellebuyck makes 17 saves in Devils debut as Hischier scores twice in 5-1 win

A debut win in net

Connor Hellebuyck made his New Jersey Devils debut on Tuesday, 27 October, making 17 saves in a 5-1 road win over the Dallas Stars. The 33-year-old goalie, a three-time Vezina Trophy winner, had been traded by the Winnipeg Jets on Friday, 23 October, four days before the game. Counts of his shots differ: AP reported 16 saves on 17 shots, while The New York Times gave 17 saves on 18 shots. The Devils, now 8-4-0, extended their winning streak to four games, and Dallas saw its own five-game run snapped. Coach Sheldon Keefe was impressed with the newcomer after the game.

“He not only seems like he's in midseason form but seems like he's been here a long time.”

Hischier and the Devils' scoring

Captain Nico Hischier, in his 10th season with New Jersey, opened the scoring at 2:41 of the first period. He doubled the lead 38 seconds into the second period, with Timo Meier setting him up on the goal. Hischier has seven goals this season, the most on the team, and was named the game's first star. Jesper Boqvist made it 3-0 midway through the second period. Justin Hryckowian's deflection pulled Dallas back to 3-1 at 16:08, but Luke Hughes answered 28 seconds later, and Jack Hughes added the final goal in the third period. The five goals were New Jersey's season high against Dallas, which had entered the night leading the NHL with a 1.68 goals-against average.

Injuries and a Olympic echo

Jack Hughes took a high stick to the face from Justin Hryckowian in the first period and appeared to spit out his teeth before heading to the dressing room. He returned wearing a face shield and scored the Devils' final goal. The last time Hughes played in front of Hellebuyck, at the Winter Olympics in February, he also lost his teeth. Hellebuyck joked after the game about the pattern.

“Every time we play together, he loses a tooth.”

Stars defenseman Kyle Capobianco left the ice five minutes into the third period with an apparent leg injury and did not return.

The trade and his first days in New Jersey

Hellebuyck asked for a trade after the 2025-26 season with the Jets, the only NHL team he had ever known, and made the request public in August. Winnipeg suspended him when he did not report to training camp in September. On Friday, 23 October, the day his suspension was set to lift, New Jersey acquired him for NHL forwards Dawson Mercer and Nick Bjugstad, goalie Nico Daws, prospect Alexander Command and a pair of draft picks. Before the deal he had trained at Lakeland Ice Arena in Waterford Township, Michigan, with unsigned forwards Robby Fabbri and Antonio Stranges. His agent, Ray Petkau, called the rink needing to reach him immediately and then told him the New Jersey deal was going through.

Swiss players and other results

Akira Schmid made 24 saves for the Florida Panthers in a 5-1 win over the Winnipeg Jets, who played without Nino Niederreiter as a healthy scratch. Winnipeg's loss was its sixth straight defeat. Pius Suter's St. Louis Blues lost 2-0 to the Montreal Canadiens, and Suter was on the ice for both goals against. Roman Josi's Nashville Predators lost 4-3 in a shootout to the New York Islanders, and Josi finished without a point. Lian Bichsel finished minus-1 for Dallas.

What comes next

The Devils visit Colorado on Wednesday, 28 October. The Stars host Montreal on Thursday, 29 October, in the fourth game of a six-game homestand that began a road back-to-back for New Jersey.