Hellebuyck shines with 43 saves in Jets' victory over Wild

In St. Paul, Minnesota, on November 25, 2024, the Winnipeg Jets faced the Minnesota Wild in a highly competitive matchup between two leading teams in the Western Conference. Connor Hellebuyck emerged as the standout performer, achieving a season-high 43 saves, helping his team secure a 4-1 victory. The lone goal for Minnesota came from defenseman Jacob Middleton in the first period, but Alex Iafallo quickly answered back, evening the score just over a minute later. Iafallo went on to score again in the third period on a power play, marking the 100th goal of his NHL career. The game's momentum shifted when Nino Niederreiter, who previously played for the Wild, scored to put the Jets ahead 2-1 in the second period. This performance was notable as Minnesota had been dominant in shots, leading 36-16 at one point. However, they struggled to convert opportunities into goals, demonstrating the effectiveness of Hellebuyck’s goalkeeping, which tied him for second in the NHL in goals-against average. The Jets' win was particularly significant, as it marked their seventh consecutive victory over Minnesota, including a recent overtime win earlier this season. This winning streak has put the Jets in a solid position as they continued their season-long six-game road trip. The game also saw Kirill Kaprizov return to the Wild's lineup after missing one game, though he saw his franchise-record 11-game point streak come to an end. Following this event, the Jets are set to face the Los Angeles Kings, while the Wild will visit the Buffalo Sabres in their next match, further shaping the playoff picture in the Western Conference.