This is not a website known for holding back when an athlete gives an egregious performance on a big stage, but even I, the cynical blogger hardened by years of easy insults, couldn’t help but feel my heart sink when Connor Hellebuyck let in two goals on the St. Louis Blues’ first four shots. I’ve referred to the 10-year Winnipeg Jets vet as the league’s hardest-working goalie—this regular season was his fifth topping the NHL in games played—but yet again, it looked like he took an untimely vacation when his team needed him most. It required some incredible Jets magic to bring Hellebuyck back from Fraudwatch, but that’s exactly what his teammates did.
Up until three seconds remained in Game 7, Hellebuyck’s last three years…