Connor Hellebuyck Wins Devils Debut, Stars Fall 5-1

Connor Hellebuyck stopped 16 of 17 shots in his first game as a New Jersey Devil, and Nico Hischier scored twice as the Devils beat the Dallas Stars 5-1 on Tuesday night in Dallas, according to the AP. It was Hellebuyck's first win since April 9.

The stakes were bigger than one night in October. Hellebuyck started four days after Winnipeg traded him to New Jersey, ending a saga that included a public trade request and a team suspension for failing to report to training camp. The Devils (8-4-0) have now won four straight, and they did it against a Dallas team that entered leading the NHL with a 1.68 goals-against average.

Connor Hellebuyck's quiet debut

Dallas did not test him much. The Stars managed 17 shots, and the only one that beat Hellebuyck was Justin Hryckowian's deflection at 16:08 of the second period. That is fine with New Jersey, which paid a real price to get him: forwards Dawson Mercer, Nick Bjugstad and Alexander Command, goalie Nico Daws, a 2029 second-round pick and a 2027 seventh-round pick, per the trade announced Oct. 23.

Hellebuyck is a three-time Vezina Trophy winner and won the Hart Trophy as league MVP in 2024-25. Devils fans watching him settle in behind this team should notice how little he had to do. That is a good sign for a team that has now won four in a row.

Nico Hischier and the Hughes brothers

Hischier, the captain in his 10th season, gave New Jersey a 2-0 lead at 2:41 of the first period and 38 seconds into the second. Dallas challenged the first goal for goaltender interference on Timo Meier and lost. Hischier now has a team-high seven goals and two two-goal games.

Jesper Boqvist made it 3-0 midway through the second, and after Hryckowian's goal, Luke Hughes answered 28 seconds later. Jack Hughes also scored. Devils fans have to love seeing both Hughes brothers on the scoresheet on the same night.

Stars streak ends

Dallas had its five-game winning streak snapped, and the five goals were the most it has allowed this season. Casey DeSmith made 22 saves in his third start, and the Stars' penalty kill went 3 for 3, now 22 straight kills over six games. Defenseman Kyle Capobianco was helped off five minutes into the third with an apparent leg injury and did not return. Stars fans will be watching for an update on him before Montreal visits Thursday.

New Jersey is at Colorado on Wednesday to finish a back-to-back, and Hischier has been the team's top finisher all season. Smacktok pick: lean higher on Nico Hischier's goals against the Avalanche.