The Devils just announced that Connor Hellebuyck will not play Tuesday in Winnipeg, and GM Sunny Mehta addressed it in a statement.
Fans have had that night circled since the goalie asked out of town. Hellebuyck was drafted by the Jets in the fifth round in 2012, 130th overall, and Tuesday was set to be his first possible game against the team that drafted him.
New Jersey said it tonight, just after a 4-0 win in Toronto that sent the Devils to Winnipeg with some momentum.
Devils GM Sunny Mehta put out a statement on the club's game Tuesday in Winnipeg, and it settles the goalie question before anyone had to ask.
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The reason is what makes this strange. The Devils say the call comes down to win probability, meaning they believe keeping Hellebuyck out gives them a better shot at two points. The sheet lists no injury for him.
Hellebuyck has played 4 games for New Jersey this season. He has been in net often enough that skipping the one game with the biggest emotional pull stands out.
We have followed this story since he shared his open letter to Jets fans on the trade request, where he kept the details of the decision private. Tuesday would have been the first time he faced those fans in person.
The Jets are not an easy opponent right now, even with their record. They beat Tampa Bay 4-3 tonight for their third straight win, and they sit at 7-8-3 in 18 games.
Why would the Devils sit Hellebuyck in Winnipeg?
The stated answer is a numbers answer. Whether the Devils believe a hostile building and a goalie carrying all that emotion hurts their chances is something they have not spelled out, and it is the obvious read.
It is also a strange way to explain it. Teams rarely cite win probability in public, especially when the player is healthy and the game has this much history.
Winnipeg fans deserved their moment with him, and so did Hellebuyck. He has to wait, and the Devils would rather you not ask why. Jets players and fans have already been pointed at by others in the Hellebuyck saga, like when Brandon Hagel took aim at Larkin and Hellebuyck, so the temperature around this was never going to be low.
Tuesday's game in Winnipeg is now a regular two points for Sheldon Keefe's group. Who starts in net, and whether Hellebuyck says more before then, is the story to watch.
Quick hits
FLYERS: Daniel Vladar was the only reason Philadelphia left Calgary with a point, according to Kevin Kurz, after a 4-3 overtime loss. Without him, this one could have been ugly.
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FLAMES: Matthew Coronato ended it in overtime at the Saddledome, 4-3 over the Flyers, according to Gino Hard. Calgary takes the extra point and the home crowd gets a winner.
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DUCKS: Jackson LaCombe tied the franchise record with an assist in a 10th straight game, the team says. That is Getzlaf and Perry territory, and it came against Pittsburgh.
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BLACKHAWKS: Pro Hockey Rumors reports Chicago appears set to change backup goalie again, one day after a 9-2 loss in Carolina. Nobody should be shocked by that.
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LIGHTNING: Erik Cernak left the ice in Winnipeg with discomfort to his left leg during a third-period Jets power play, per WiebesWorld. Tampa will want an update fast.
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Are the Devils right to keep Connor Hellebuyck out of Winnipeg because of win probability?
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