Connor Hellebuyck got the reception everyone expected tonight as the Devils visit the Jets, and Winnipeg's crowd made sure he heard it.
The game sits at the first intermission as we write. This is Hellebuyck's first trip back to the building where he spent his career, and the noise started well before the puck dropped.
He was the last Devil to step on the ice for warmups, and a chorus of boos greeted him when he finally appeared. Fans also gave him mocking cheers for saves in warmups.
Once the game started, the crowd broke into "WHERE IS CONNOR!?" while the goalie stayed in the Devils' dressing room. Then came chants of "COWARD! COWARD! COWARD!", and fans began throwing t-shirts and jerseys on the ice. Garbage was reportedly part of it too.
Earlier today, Chris Johnston reported Hellebuyck's Winnipeg plans: he would not start for the Devils, but he would hear the boos. Nobody in that building seems to have needed him on the ice to deliver them.
Did Dawson Mercer just write Winnipeg's perfect script?
Pretty close. Dawson Mercer, acquired from New Jersey in the Hellebuyck trade, opened the scoring tonight. Jets fans followed with a chant of "PULL YOUR GOALIE!"
Mercer has 8 points in 18 games this season, so he is not the Jets' headline scorer. He just happened to be the one who scored first against the goalie he was traded for, which is exactly the kind of moment this crowd was hoping for.
The standings make this a bigger night for Winnipeg than a revenge story. The Jets are 7-8-3 and sit 23rd in the NHL, while the Devils are 13-5-0 and have won five straight. A Jets win would be the upset on paper.
The tone of the night also stands apart from what Hellebuyck said this morning. He told reporters in Winnipeg that things happened to his family that crossed the line in Winnipeg, which is why chants about cowardice and garbage on the ice will be debated as hard as the score.
Littering the ice is a bad look, whatever anyone thinks of how Hellebuyck left. Boos and chants make the point on their own.
The Devils host the Capitals on Thursday, and the Jets are in Dallas the same day.
Quick hits
FLAMES: Jonathan Huberdeau is on the verge of returning from hip surgery, according to Eric Francis. That is a big lift for a Calgary lineup that could use his skill back.
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COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS: Danton Heinen still hasn't reported to AHL Cleveland, Brian Hedger says. The Blue Jackets are giving him time to decide his next move, which is an awkward spot for everybody.
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GOALIE MATCHUP: Logan Thompson starts for the Capitals in Ottawa tonight, Sammi Silber confirmed. Samuel Ersson gets the Senators' net, and the hot-goalie storyline is worth watching.
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TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS: Colorado Hockey Now projects MacKenzie Blackwood to start for the Avalanche against the Leafs tonight, with Scott Wedgewood backing up. Toronto is trying to end a skid.
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MILESTONE: Roman Josi needs one point against the Kings tonight to become the first Switzerland-born player to reach 800 career points. Los Angeles is the stage.
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This article was written with the help of artificial intelligence, based on public reports and official sources.
Should Jets fans have thrown garbage on the ice for Connor Hellebuyck's return?
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Ugly scenes in Winnipeg as sweater hits ice and chants erupt before Devils game
