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Tag: Connor Hellebuyck

  • Connor Hellebuyck makes 30 saves, Jets rout Oilers 6-0 in opener

    Connor Hellebuyck makes 30 saves, Jets rout Oilers 6-0 in opener

    EDMONTON, Alberta (AP) — Connor Hellebuyck made 30 saves for his 38th career shutout and the Winnipeg Jets routed the Edmonton Oilers 6-0 on Wednesday night in the opener for both teams.

    “The guys in front of me were just keeping everything outside, allowing me to see pucks, allowing me to feel it, clearing rebounds, clearing lanes,” Hellebuyck said. “They made my night really easy. Once in a while I made a big save, which allowed me to feel like a part of the team.”

    Mason Appleton had a goal and two assists, Adam Lowry and Mark Scheifele each had a goal and an assist and Rasmus Kupari, Dylan Samberg and Kyle Connor also scored.

    “It’s great, just to get the season off on a good note,” first-year Jets coach Scott Arniel said. “I did have a sleepless night just worrying about some of these guys on the other team there and how powerful they are as a group. … It’s a road win in a tough barn. We’ll take that and move on.”

    Edmonton outshot Winnipeg 30-20. The Oilers lost to Florida in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup final last season.

    “You had an incredible year that finished with disappointment and it’s tough to just say ‘Forget about it, let’s think about now,’” Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch said. “But there is a point where we need to do that.”

    Oilers starter Stuart Skinner allowed five goals on 13 shots before being pulled midway through the second period. Calvin Pickard gave up a goal on seven shots.

    “I feel terrible about what happened tonight,” Skinner said. “It is very frustrating to start like this. It is just not ideal. I don’t feel great.”

    Takeaways

    Jets: Connor scored in an opener for an NHL-record seventh consecutive year. He walked in from the top of the circle on the power play midway through the second period and whipped a shot off the post and in. Three players scored in six straight openers: Cam Atkinson, Yvan Cournoyer and Mud Bruneteau.

    Oilers: Leon Draisaitl’s opening night points streak ended at eight.

    Key moment

    Winnipeg scored twice in a 20-second span early in the second period to take a 4-0 lead. Kupari ripped a shot past Skinner and, while that was still sinking in, Nino Niederreiter passed through traffic to Samberg for a shot over Skinner’s shoulder.

    Key stat

    The Jets scored four times on their first 10 shots.

    Up next

    The Oilers host Chicago on Saturday night in the second of four home games to start the season. The Jets open a four-homestand Friday night against the Blackhawks.

    ___ AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

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  • Local notebook: Billerica’s Jeff Trainor still playing lacrosse at elite level for Boston Cannons

    Local notebook: Billerica’s Jeff Trainor still playing lacrosse at elite level for Boston Cannons

    One of the best players in the 50-year history of the proud Billerica High boys lacrosse program is still playing.

    And, not surprisingly, Jeff Trainor remains at an elite level.

    The 26-year-old recently resigned with the Boston Cannons of the Premier Lacrosse League for two seasons, extending his deal through the 2026 campaign.

    The 6-foot, 190-pound defensive midfielder, a 2021 UMass graduate, is coming off a 10-game 2023 regular season which saw him tally two goals and two assists, while causing five turnovers and collecting nine groundballs.

    Billerica High is celebrating its 50th anniversary this season and the program is rightfully proud of its storied history. When the top players in program history are mentioned, it’s not long before Trainor’s name is invoked.

    Vezina talk

    Former UMass Lowell goaltender Connor Hellebuyck may need to make room in his ever-expanding trophy case.

    Though he and his Winnipeg Jets teammates were bounced in the first round of the NHL playoffs, Hellebuyck has been named a finalist for the Vezina Trophy, awarded to the NHL’s top goaltender. It was the fourth time Hellebuyck has been a finalist.

    He won the award after the 2019-20 season, was the runner-up in 2017-18 and finished third last season.

    Hellebuyck guided the Jets to a terrific regular season. In 60 games, he compiled a 37-19-4 record, a 2.39 goals against average and .921 save percentage. He finished second in wins and save percentage, and fourth in goals against average. He made 1,656 saves, second most in the NHL.

    Many NHL experts are predicting Hellebuyck will win his second Vezina. The other finalists are Florida’s Sergei Bobrovsky and Vancouver’s Thatcher Demko.

    Hellebuyck played two seasons at UMass Lowell. In 54 games, he compiled an eye-popping .946 save percentage and won the Mike Richter Award as the nation’s top goalie. He also led the River Hawks to their lone Frozen Four appearance.

    Filling the nets

    While Hellebuyck is keeping pucks out of the net, Shirley’s Arthur Bernardino continues to fill soccer nets with goals.

    Bernardino stars for the Revolution Academy’s U-13 team. Recently, the team recently posted back-to-back shutout victories.

    In a 2-0 win over Beachside SC, Bernardino netted his 25th goal of the season. The next day, in a 7-0 rout of the Bolton Bolts, Bernardino recorded a hat trick and found time to dish out an assist.

    Last week, Bernardino stayed red hot. In a 6-0 win over New England FC, the young ace tallied a goal and assist. He then scored his team-leading 30th goal in a 2-1 win over BW Gottschee to extend his team’s unbeaten streak to 28 games.

    Here and there

    Scott Boyle, in his second stint as Lowell High’s football coach, continues to fill out his staff. … The closure of Green Meadow Golf Club in Hudson, N.H., continues to be felt deeply by area golfers this spring. That, coupled with the previous closure of Tyngsboro Country Club, means there are 27 fewer holes for public duffers to play. … UMass Lowell posted its director of athletics position Wednesday and the school hopes to announce a hiring by the second week of June.

    An 18-person search committee has been formed to replace Peter Casey, whose contract expires soon. Casey was named director of athletics by former Chancellor Jacquie Moloney on July 16, 2018 and Casey officially began running the department following the retirement of Dana Skinner two months later. … Speaking of UML, no Division 1 baseball player has more doubles than sophomore Carlos Martinez.

    Martinez went into Friday with 24 doubles in 42 games to lead the nation. A transfer from the University of Pittsburgh, Martinez has been a huge addition for the River Hawks. The outfielder leads the team with a .331 average and 35 RBI.

    Barry Scanlon

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  • Sam Gagner breaks late tie, Jets beat Flames 3-2

    Sam Gagner breaks late tie, Jets beat Flames 3-2

    WINNIPEG, Manitoba — Sam Gagner tipped in Ville Heinola’s point shot with 5:40 left to help the Winnipeg Jets beat the Calgary Flames 3-2 on Tuesday night.

    “Just was able to get my backhand on it,” the 33-year-old Gagner said after his 1,002nd NHL game. “It was a great shot by Ville. He kept it low and allowed me to see it the whole way. It’s definitely a good feeling.”

    Brenden Dillon and Josh Morrissey also scored for Winnipeg and Connor Hellebuyck made 33 saves. The Jets improved to 24-13-1 in the opener a three-game homestand, winning their third straight after dropping three in a row.

    Nikita Zadorov and Mikael Backlund scored Calgary and Jacob Markstrom stopped 22 shots. The Flames dropped to 18-14-7.

    “It’s another one that we let go, didn’t find a way to win,” Backlund said. “It’s frustrating, this one and (a recent 2-1 loss to) Edmonton, two games that I think we should have won and could have won and we find a way to lose instead.”

    Morrissey gave Winnipeg a 2-1 lead with 9:38 left. The Flames responded quickly, with Backlund’s backhander getting between Hellebuyck’s pads with 8:02 to go.

    UP NEXT

    Flames: Host New York Islanders on Friday night.

    Jets: Host Tampa Bay on Friday night.

    ———

    AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/NHL and https://twitter.com/AP—Sports

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