The newly acquired goalie stopped 16 of 17 shots as New Jersey beat Dallas 5-1 for its fourth straight win.
Connor Hellebuyck finally got his wish. After 11 seasons with the Winnipeg Jets and a trade request that got him shipped to New Jersey last Friday, the three-time Vezina winner made his Devils debut on Tuesday night in Dallas and delivered, stopping 16 of 17 shots as New Jersey rolled the Stars 5-1.
It was Hellebuyck's first game action since April 13. The Devils gave up a modest package to land him, including 20-goal scorer Dawson Mercer and this year's 12th overall pick, a price that reflects both his pedigree and the questions hanging over him after his worst season since early in his career and a reputation as a playoff underperformer.
None of that mattered on debut night. Hellebuyck allowed only a second-period goal while the Devils piled up five of their own, extending their win streak to four games. Asked what was on his mind before the game, Hellebuyck said one word summed it up: finally.
For a Devils team that desperately needed a reliable presence in net, the early returns suggest they got exactly that.