Hellebuyck Shines in Devils Debut, Hughes Powers Comeback Win
Connor Hellebuyck earned his first win with the New Jersey Devils in a 4-3 shootout victory over the Edmonton Oilers at Prudential Center. Jack Hughes scored twice in 45 seconds during the second period to give the Devils a crucial lead, while Arseny Gritsyuk sealed the win in the shootout. The victory marked the third straight for the Devils since Hellebuyck’s acquisition from Winnipeg.
Connor Hellebuyck earned his first victory with the New Jersey Devils in a 4-3 shootout win over the Edmonton Oilers at Prudential Center on November 3, 2026, marking his home debut in a new jersey after being acquired from Winnipeg on October 23. Jack Hughes was the offensive catalyst, scoring two goals in just 45 seconds during the second period—first a one-timer from the right circle at 14:50 and then a deflection off his skate following a pass from Connor Brown. The Devils led 3-1 after Hughes’ flurry, but Edmonton rallied with goals from Evan Bouchard (first period), Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (power play, tying him with Wayne Gretzky for most games played in Oilers history), and Leon Draisaitl (5-on-3 goal early in the third). Despite Connor McDavid extending his NHL-record assist streak to 16 games by setting up Draisaitl, he managed only one shot on goal in 24:15 of ice time, largely due to effective defensive coverage by Nico Hischier. Arseny Gritsyuk scored the decisive shootout goal, with Hellebuyck making a key save on Kasperi Kapanen to seal the win. The victory extended New Jersey’s winning streak to three games and improved their record to 10-5-0, including 6-1-0 in their last seven.
The acquisition of Hellebuyck from Winnipeg signaled a major shift in the Devils’ goaltending strategy, aiming to bolster a defense that had struggled earlier in the season. His performance—especially during a second period where Edmonton managed just three shots—was described as “almost
The Devils’ recent turnaround, highlighted by Hellebuyck’s debut win, could signal a shift in how teams approach goaltending trades during the season—especially when acquiring proven veterans midstream. With Hellebuyck’s immediate impact, other franchises may reconsider the value of established netminders as trade assets, potentially increasing market activity before the deadline. The success of this move might also influence fan expectations, raising pressure on management to deliver results quickly. For the NHL, such high-profile trades can boost interest in specific matchups and drive viewership, particularly when star players like McDavid are involved. A comparable precedent is the 2019 trade of Marc-André Fleury to the Chicago Blackhawks, which similarly reshaped a team’s identity midseason. However, unlike that case, Hellebuyck’s impact has been immediate and positive, suggesting that strategic acquisitions can yield rapid returns. What may follow is increased scrutiny on goalten