NHL: Winnipeg Jets goalie Hellebuyck celebrates 300 wins [Video]

WINNIPEG –

Connor Hellebuyck admitted it was difficult to stay patient as he was reaching a milestone of 300 NHL career wins.

After being in net for a pair of losses, the Winnipeg Jets goalie finally accomplished that feat in Tuesday’s 5-2 victory over the Nashville Predators.

“It feels good,” said Hellebuyck, who had 26 saves in the victory. “The anticipation was killing me a little bit.

“That’s not how I played it out this week, but the guys played so hard in front of me and the crowd was incredible tonight. That’s a very memorable one.”

Hellebuyck became the third-fastest NHL netminder to reach 300 wins (300-179-43) in 538 regular-season games. The only other goaltenders to accomplish the milestone faster are Andrei Vasilevskiy (490 games played) and Jacques Plante (521).

The Michigan product is also the fastest U.S.-born netminder in NHL history to reach the 300-win mark, the 41st goalie overall …