Connor Hellebuyck Pro Reads 6
With Connor Hellebuyck
Keys to Rush Patience and Good Lateral Pushes
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Connor Hellebuyck was named one of the NHL’s 3 Stars for December after going 7-0-2 record with a .934 save percentage last month, and the Winnipeg Jets star picked up right where he left off to start 2024 with 32 saves in a 4-2 win against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Tuesday and 28 more in a 2-1 win at the San Jose Sharks on Thursday to extend his personal point streak to 11 games.
As Hellebuyck gathers steam for a second Vezina Trophy, now felt like a perfect time to go back to him for a sixth Pro Reads session (not that we needed an excuse given how impressive Hellebuyck’s first five video breakdowns were).
THE SEQUENCE
After walking us through screen advice in his last Pro Reads, we’re back to another odd-man rush this time, something Hellebuyck has always excelled against statistically, and this time it’s against the Calgary Flames:
Believe it or not, this started as a 3-on-3 through the neutral zone, but quickly turned into Jonathan Huberdeau skating unchecked into the high slot. If you were Hellebuyck at this point, what information are you looking for?
Are you thinking shot right away?
What do you make of Hellebuyck’s depth at this point?
THE SAVE
This play evolves and changes so rapidly we won’t spend a lot of time with extra freeze frames, but keep the same questions in mind as you watch the full video:
Were you surprised at all to see Hellebuyck stay in the blue ice of his crease with Huberdeau walking in so open with an opportunity to shoot from a dangerous area? Or was there something – anything – that might have tipped you off to a pass?
THE PRO READ
Now let’s hear how Hellebuyck approached this rush and that same question:
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- Hellebuyck breaks down his save on a 3-on-3 rush that collapsed into an unchecked Jonathan Huberdeau entry into the high slot against the Calgary Flames.
- Hellebuyck held his depth in the blue ice of his crease despite Huberdeau walking in open — a deliberate read, not a passive reaction, because the play gave him little early information to commit to a shot.
- Hellebuyck explains he had not picked up any important cues by the time the rush reached the Winnipeg blue line, meaning his rush read relied on late-developing information rather than early neutral-zone cues.
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