Connor Hellebuyck wins debut as Devils beat Stars

DALLAS · Connor Hellebuyck made 16 saves to win his New Jersey Devils debut, Nico Hischier scored two goals and the Devils defeated the Dallas Stars 5-1 on Tuesday night. The three-time Vezina Trophy winner started four days after being traded by the Winnipeg Jets following his suspension for failing to report to training camp. It was his first victory since April 9. The Devils have now won four consecutive games.

Hellebuyck said he was eager to play again after the trade. "Sitting at home for so long was getting to me. For myself, I'm just really excited to play hockey again," he said Saturday. "I'm joining a very skilled group. They brought me for a certain specific role. I'm really excited to fill that role, not only on the ice but off the ice as well." Devils coach Sheldon Keefe confirmed the start after the morning skate, saying, "He is going tonight, yes."

Hischier, the team captain, gave New Jersey a 2-0 lead with goals at 2:41 of the first period and 38 seconds into the second. The Stars challenged the first goal for goaltender interference against Timo Meier, but the call was denied. Hischier now has a team-high seven goals this season. Jesper Boqvist made it 3-0 midway through the second period.

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Justin Hryckowian scored for Dallas on a deflection at 16:08 of the second to pull within two goals. Luke Hughes answered for the Devils just 28 seconds later. Jack Hughes also scored for New Jersey. The five goals allowed marked a season high against the Stars, who entered the game leading the NHL with a 1.68 goals-against average.

Casey DeSmith made 22 saves for Dallas in his third start of the season. The loss snapped the Stars' five-game winning streak. Their second-ranked penalty kill went 3 for 3, extending a run of 22 consecutive successful kills over six games. Stars defenseman Kyle Capobianco was helped off the ice five minutes into the third period with an apparent leg injury and did not return.

The game was the fourth in a season-long six-game homestand for Dallas and began a road back-to-back for New Jersey. Hellebuyck, 33, spent 11 seasons with the Jets, including a Presidents' Trophy-winning campaign in 2024-25, and helped the United States win gold at the Milan Cortina Olympics this year. He is fifth on the U.S.-born goaltenders list with 345 career wins. Garbutt Disposal reported in October that the Jets sent Hellebuyck to New Jersey for four players and two draft picks, ending a months-long saga. The goaltender was a fifth-round draft pick by Winnipeg in 2012 and has five seasons remaining on a seven-year contract with an annual salary cap hit of $8.5 million.

With files from The Canadian Press, CBC News and Sportsnet