NHL2026-10-31Connor Hellebuyck Is 2-0 With the Devils After Shutting Out Vegas for 40 Minutes, and Jack Hughes and Arseny Gritsyuk Score Twice
By Verdexed NHL Desk
Connor Hellebuyck is 2-0 as a New Jersey Devil. The former Winnipeg star stopped 19 of 21 shots on Friday in a 5-2 win over the Vegas Golden Knights at T-Mobile Arena, blanking Vegas over the final 40 minutes after allowing two early goals. Arseny Gritsyuk and Jack Hughes each scored twice, and Luke Hughes added a goal. Mark Stone and Ivan Barbashev scored for Vegas, and Adin Hill took the loss.
Two starts into his Devils tenure, the shape of Hellebuyck's fantasy season is coming into focus: light workloads, strong goal support and a team that controls play in front of him.
Two starts, two easy nights
Hellebuyck's debut came in a 5-1 rout of Dallas, when he made 17 saves and Nico Hischier scored twice. Friday's game followed the same script.
| Game | Result | Shots faced | Saves | Goals against |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| vs. Dallas (debut) | W 5-1 | 18 | 17 | 1 |
| at Vegas | W 5-2 | 21 | 19 | 2 |
The volume is the key fantasy detail. Hellebuyck built his reputation in Winnipeg partly by facing heavy shot totals and turning them into big save counts. In New Jersey, he is facing about 20 shots a night with five goals of support. That changes his fantasy profile: wins and ratios go up, saves come down.
Fantasy read: in head-to-head category leagues, Hellebuyck is now an elite source of wins, GAA and save percentage, with a lower save total than his Winnipeg peak. In points leagues that reward saves heavily, he is still a must-start, but his ceiling on a given night is a little lower than it used to be. Either way, he is a top-five fantasy goalie on a team built to win in front of him.
Arseny Gritsyuk's breakout
Gritsyuk's two-goal night is the add-worthy development. He has been working his way into a scoring role, and a multi-goal game on a team scoring five a night is the kind of performance that earns more ice time and power-play looks.
Fantasy read: Gritsyuk is a strong add in deeper leagues and a speculative pickup in standard formats. Monitor his line placement over the next week; if he sticks in the top six with one of the Hughes brothers or Hischier, his value climbs further.
The Hughes brothers
Jack Hughes scored twice and continues to look like one of the most dangerous offensive players in the league. He is an every-night start, and the Devils' improved goaltending may actually help his plus-minus in leagues that count it.
Luke Hughes added a goal from the blue line. Offensive defensemen who score and run the power play are scarce, and he is a weekly starter in all formats.
Vegas is sliding at home
The Golden Knights have now gone 1-3-1 in their past five games, and Friday was another loss at home. New Jersey's speed on the rush caused problems all game. Mark Stone and Ivan Barbashev provided the offense, but Vegas could not generate much after the first period.
The goaltending situation adds a layer of uncertainty. Carter Hart was hurt at morning skate on Tuesday and missed a win over Ottawa, then returned to practice on Thursday and served as the backup on Friday. Hill took the loss, making 26 saves according to AP's account.
Fantasy read: the Vegas crease is a timeshare until Hart is fully cleared to start. Hill is a spot start in favorable matchups; Hart is a hold for when he returns. Stone remains a weekly starter. Barbashev is a deeper-league option whose value depends on his line.
The betting angle
Hellebuyck's arrival is the biggest goaltending change of the young season, and the market has been adjusting New Jersey's price accordingly. Two dominant wins confirm the upgrade. The Devils now combine elite goaltending with a fast, high-scoring forward group, a profile that tends to justify short prices on the moneyline and makes the under on opponent team totals worth considering when Hellebuyck is confirmed.
For Vegas, a slumping home team with an unsettled crease is one to price carefully. Check Daily Faceoff for confirmed starters before betting either team. For the model's daily view, see the NHL picks at /blog/nhl-picks-2026-10-31 and the live board at /nhl/predictions.
What to do in your league
Start every night: Connor Hellebuyck, Jack Hughes, Luke Hughes.
Add: Arseny Gritsyuk in deeper leagues and as a speculative pickup in standard formats.
Timeshare caution: Adin Hill and Carter Hart until Vegas settles its crease.
Hold: Mark Stone through the Golden Knights' slump.
Two starts is a small sample, but the early evidence is that Hellebuyck has landed in an ideal fantasy situation. Fewer shots, more goal support and a better team in front of him make him one of the safest goalie starts in the league.