NHL: Hellebuyck Wins Devils Debut 5-1 at Dallas After 197 Days Without a Game

The biggest goaltending move of the early season has had its first on-ice follow-up. Connor Hellebuyck, whom New Jersey acquired from Winnipeg four days before the game, took the ice in his new sweater on Tuesday, October 27, and the Devils beat Dallas on the road 5-1. It was also the goalie's first game of the season: because of a drawn-out conflict with his previous club he had not played at all, and by ClutchPoints' count the layoff stretched to 197 days.

Nico Hischier scored twice and Jack Hughes added another, putting the finishing touch in the third period. Hellebuyck himself stopped 17 shots, according to NHL.com. Coach Sheldon Keefe said: "I thought he was exceptional." In fairness, though, one report notes that the goalie did not have much to do, so it is hard to call the debut spectacular.

Going to Winnipeg in the trade were Dawson Mercer, goaltender Nico Daws and two draft picks; sources disagree on which young player was in the package, so we leave that point out. The next test is the road game in Colorado on October 28, where MacKinnon and Makar were expected. How it ended, the search did not show, so check the score on nhl.com. There is no official NHL broadcast in Russia, so the morning recap remains the main way to stay in the loop.