Unnumbered Thoughts: The race in the Central to avoid Connor Hellebuyck
Connor Hellebuyck is the most feared man in the Central Division.
It’s not something teams are saying out loud, but for the Dallas Stars and Colorado Avalanche, the race in the Central is about more than the Division title.
In a year where the NHL average save percentage has dropped to .904, tied for statistically the second-worst goaltending season in the salary cap era, Hellebuyck has been on another planet from his peers with a .925 save percentage.
Hellebuyck recently had a stretch where he went 31 straight games without allowing more than three goals.
He’s effectively the Vezina Trophy winner in waiting and should heavily be considered as a Hart Trophy candidate, potentially being the first goalie to win it since Carey Price in 2015.
Because of the NHL’s divisional playoff format, and