- Ray Ferraro says Jake Allen’s 11 regulation losses to the Jets undercut the Devils’ “expected win probability” explanation
- Allen is 6-3-0 with a .881 save percentage while Connor Hellebuyck is 5-0-0 with a .913
- Read below for Hellebuyck’s reaction and where he’s expected to be during Tuesday’s game in Winnipeg
Ray Ferraro isn’t buying the Devils’ reason for sitting Connor Hellebuyck in Winnipeg.
The longtime hockey analyst went after the logic on X, pointing at the goalie New Jersey will start instead. Ferraro wrote, “This might make a little more sense if Jake Allen, who is very capable, doesn’t have 11 losses against the Jets in regulation… The most of any team in the league for him.” He tagged it #notreallyanalytics.
Check out our graphic of the post:
The “analytics” line came from the team itself. GM Sunny Mehta said in a Sunday night statement that Hellebuyck was “adamant that he felt a duty to play,” but that playing him Tuesday “would potentially give us a reduction in our expected win probability.” We covered the full announcement Sunday.
The season numbers make Ferraro’s point louder. Allen is 6-3-0 with a 3.20 goals-against average and .881 save percentage. Hellebuyck is 5-0-0 with a 1.96 GAA and .913 after stopping 23 shots in Sunday’s 4-0 win over the Maple Leafs.
Head coach Sheldon Keefe was asked about the decision and pointed to workload instead. “From our perspective, when you zoom out, this is a goaltender that is not going to play every single game of the season,” Keefe said. “You’re always looking for times to give him a night off.”
Hellebuyck was asked about it after the shutout and said he understands the call but disagrees with it.
Watch Hellebuyck’s postgame comments:
“Selfishly I want to play, but when you’re looking at the team and what’s best for the team, I understand where they’re coming from,” Hellebuyck said. He was also asked what Jets fans will be feeling. “I know there’s a pretty sour taste in Winnipeg. I’ve heard that,” he said. “But I can only speak to my memories and my cherished moments in the city.”
Fans may barely see him Tuesday. Hellebuyck is expected to dress as Allen’s backup and take warmups, but he has stayed in the locker room whenever he’s a backup or gets pulled.
He will speak to reporters after the morning skate at Canada Life Centre and plans to address why he asked out, a topic he touched on in his letter to Jets fans.
