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EspañolThe Winnipeg Jets will have their gold-medal goalie back between the pipes.
For the first time since the Olympic break, netminder Connor Hellebuyck will start for the Jets as they take on the Anaheim Ducks on Friday.
Hellebuyck was designated as a non-roster player during Wednesday’s win over Vancouver.
The 32-year-old is in the midst of a down season by his standards, posting a .900 save percentage and a 2.97 goals-against average. But Hellebuyck returned to form during the Olympics, helping Team USA capture the gold medal with a stellar performance.
Hellebuyck, the reigning back-to-back Vezina Trophy winner, was one of the American players who attended the State of the Union address by U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington, D.C. on Tuesday. During the speech, Trump announced that Hellebuyck will be receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom for his performance at the Milano Cortina Games.
Hellebuyck will try to carry the Olympic momentum into the second half of the Jets’ season as Winnipeg currently sits nine points out of a playoff spot in the Western Conference with a 23-26-8 record.
The Jets and Ducks face off at 10 p.m. ET / 9 p.m. CT on Sportsnet+.
