Rangers face tall task against Connor Hellebuyck-led Jets: ‘Top dogs’
NY Post
In the eyes of Peter Laviolette, this isn’t a fortuitous tear. This is just who the Winnipeg Jets are — the “top dogs,” he said.
The Jets have sprinted out to a scorching 14-1-0 start, the best 15-game opening act in NHL history, entering Tuesday night’s showdown with the Rangers at the Garden.
Connor Hellebuyck’s numbers — a 1.83 goals against average and a .935 save percentage — are somehow better, at least for now, than the goaltender’s Vezina-winning season last year.
Their offense has accounted for the most goals in the NHL. Their blueline and Hellebuyck have anchored a defense that has surrendered the second fewest.
“I think it’s justified,” Laviolette said. “Their record, there’s no fluke to that. So for us, it’ll be a great test, great challenge. We’re playing the best team in the league right now.”
Just about everything has gone right for the Jets, starting with Hellebuyck. And despite a 9-3-1 record, plenty has seemingly gone wrong for the Rangers as they shuffle lines and defensive pairings and struggle to prevent their goaltenders from getting peppered with shots.
The Yankees and Mets are well represented among finalists for year-end awards.
Aaron Boone acknowledged that “everyone’s going to have their opinions.”
Where and how has it all gone wrong for the Jets? How have they managed to miss the playoffs 13 consecutive years … and counting down the days and weeks to 14?
INDIANAPOLIS — There comes a point in most seasons, if not all of them, when you have to stop giving stock to the words relayed in a news conference.
Call it a bad case of the Sundays.
MUNICH — It is never, or rarely, the fault of one player, but it is time.
INDIANAPOLIS — Karl-Anthony Towns sat with his feet in the ice bucket, staring into nothing with a look of disappointment all over his face.
GLENDALE — Only the Jets could promise their tortured and tormented faithful a season of hope and great expectations and turn it into a Butt Fumble.
The way it’s gone for the Rangers the last two and a half weeks, Tuesday’s game against the NHL-leading Winnipeg Jets at Madison Square Garden is shaping up to be as big of a game as it could be in November.
Grading the Giants‘ 20-17 overtime loss to the Panthers in Germany on Sunday.