Connor Hellebuyck is aware of how robust bonds can develop when a gaggle offers with adversity.
That’s why the Winnipeg Jets star goaltender believes the crew will rally after a disappointing — and emotionally difficult — finish to its NHL season, and be higher for it.
“I believe this playoff run, there was plenty of studying curves and plenty of issues that we’ve realized and might take away,” Hellebuyck mentioned Tuesday when some gamers had their remaining media interviews.
“I do know this group goes to get quite a bit higher from that. Not solely did we get tighter as a household, however our sport received tighter and we’re going to proceed to develop that and construct that.”
The Jets received the Presidents’ Trophy this 12 months with a franchise-record 56 wins and 116 factors within the common season, however the curse of the award adopted them into the playoffs. Because it was awarded in 1985-86, solely eight winners have captured the Stanley Cup.
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Winnipeg bettered its earlier two post-season first-round exits by profitable the opening spherical in a dramatic Sport 7 double-overtime victory over the St. Louis Blues.
Subsequent up was the Dallas Stars, who eradicated the Jets 2-1 in a Sport 6 that was an emotional wringer for top-centre Mark Scheifele and his teammates.
Scheifele realized the morning of the sport that his 68-year-old father, Brad, had unexpectedly died in a single day. He determined to play for his dad and even scored the sport’s first purpose, however was within the penalty field when Stars defenceman Thomas Harley netted the winner 1:33 into extra time.
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Jets captain Adam Lowry went to the field to console Scheifele, who was then hugged by his teammates. Dallas gamers additionally embraced the Kitchener, Ont., product within the handshake line.
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Ahead Vladislav Namestnikov mentioned the best way the crew supported Scheifele might be a motivator heading into subsequent season.
“Yeah, 100 per cent,” he mentioned. “That was a really unhappy day, however I believed Mark was a trooper. The crew rallied round him.
“It’s not the outcome that we wished on the finish of the day, however I believed it introduced the group even nearer.”
Veteran defenceman Josh Morrissey described Scheifele as his greatest good friend.
“It was powerful. Past inspiring by Mark,” he mentioned. “And everybody is aware of how proud Brad would have been watching him play.”
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Morrissey’s father died in 2021. He mentioned Scheifele was there for him then, and now he’ll do all the things to assist his good friend.
He has talked to Scheifele since he went dwelling to be together with his household and put together for his dad’s funeral this week that teammates will attend.
Morrissey needed to wait till Scheifele got here off the ice to offer him a hug as a result of the blue liner was injured late within the second interval of that remaining sport towards Dallas and didn’t return.
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His left leg received caught underneath Stars ahead Mikko Rantanen once they collided into the boards.
Morrissey mentioned no surgical procedure is required from the ligament damage, however it could have been season-ending had the Jets continued within the playoffs.
PLAYING THROUGH PAIN
Jets defenceman Luke Schenn missed the second and third video games within the Dallas sequence and revealed he had cracked a few ribs through the third interval of Sport 2 towards the Blues.
“I simply went to go hit a man and felt it proper there,” he mentioned. “It’s not (the identical as damaged), however I’m not the physician. However all I do know is it doesn’t really feel nice.”
SUPPORT FROM FAR AND WIDE
After information of the loss of life of Scheifele’s father broke, a Stars fan took to social media and urged individuals to point out their help by donating to a charity linked to Scheifele. One quantity urged was $55 to characterize his jersey quantity.
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“The truth that individuals have been displaying help no matter who they cheer for, I believe that’s what sport is all about,” Morrissey mentioned.
Director of company communications Krista Sinaisky mentioned in an e mail that True North Youth Basis had obtained 1,065 donations totalling $72,000 by Tuesday morning. It consists of $5,500 from the Dallas Stars and an identical quantity by SkipTheDishes.
“The True North Youth Basis is honoured to make use of these funds to meaningfully affect youth in our neighborhood in honour of Brad Scheifele and can work with Mark and his household to take action in a means that builds legacy for his or her household,” Sinaisky wrote.
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