from Mark Spector of Sportsnet,

Hockey can be a harsh, unforgiving place — even more so at this time of year — and not just for the players and coaches.

Here in the back end of May, a young man can open up to a hockey writer with the utmost honesty, as Connor Hellebuyck did for this piece we wrote on Thursday. We are thankful to him for that, and frankly came to like the young man the more we understand and get to know him.

Then, a day later, that same writer can take a cold look at this series, and why the Winnipeg Jets are trailing 3-1, and come to this awkward conclusion:

Connor Hellebuyck.

The reason the Jets aren’t going home at 2-2 is their goalie. He hasn’t been good enough. Not only is that something we did not expect to write, it is (full disclosure) something we would rather not conclude.

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