Connor Hellebuyck turns in stellar debut as Devils rout Stars for fourth straight win

Connor Hellebuyck produced a strong performance in his New Jersey Devils debut, making 16 saves to secure a 5-1 victory over the Dallas Stars on Tuesday. The game marked his first NHL appearance since April 2026, following a trade that ended his contract standoff with the Winnipeg Jets. Nico Hischier scored twice, while Jack Hughes and Luke Hughes each contributed a goal and an assist to extend New Jersey's winning streak to four games.

Hellebuyck, an Olympic gold medalist and three-time Vezina Trophy winner, had publicly requested a trade in August and was suspended after skipping training camp. Following his debut win, Hellebuyck credited his teammates for playing a solid defensive game in front of him. The victory moved the Devils into second place in the Metropolitan Division.