FRISCO, Texas — Dallas Stars goaltender Jake Oettinger mentioned Saturday that he was shocked and embarrassed when he was pulled from Recreation 5 of the Western Convention remaining after giving up two targets on the one two photographs he confronted, and coach Peter DeBoer was nonetheless going through questions on that call two days after the season-ending loss to the Edmonton Oilers.
“Nobody’s a much bigger fan of Jake Oettinger than me, as an individual or a goalie,” DeBoer mentioned. “There’s one motive, and that is how can we survive this and get it to a Recreation 6. And I’ve to reside with these penalties. If it really works, nice, we’re in Edmonton tonight and also you guys are telling me how superior a transfer it was. And when it would not, I’ve obtained to face up right here and do that, and I perceive.”
As an alternative of a Recreation 6 in Edmonton on Saturday, the Stars had their season-ending availability in North Texas.
Oettinger was pulled solely 7:09 into Recreation 5 at house Thursday night time after Mattias Janmark’s aim put Edmonton up 2-0. The Oilers scored once more lower than a minute after Casey DeSmith took over on the best way to a 6-3 win that arrange a Stanley Cup Last rematch towards Florida, although Dallas obtained inside 4-3 a minute into the third interval.
“The fact is that if I make one or two of these saves, then I am nonetheless enjoying within the sport,” Oettinger mentioned in his first public feedback since. “The best way I am it’s, how can I get higher from that? How can I could make these saves that I made all playoffs?”
The 26-year-old goalie has been to the playoffs in 4 consecutive seasons and received six postseason collection. That stretch started in 2022, when Dallas took top-seeded Calgary to a Recreation 7, and Oettinger had 64 saves earlier than Johnny Gaudreau’s OT aim ended the first-round collection.
Oettinger had a .905 save proportion and a pair of.82 goals-against common whereas going through 503 photographs in 18 video games this postseason, by far probably the most of any goalie. Florida’s Sergei Bobrovsky, in a single fewer sport, has confronted 408 photographs and the next-highest whole is 292. Oettinger had a .909 save proportion and a pair of.59 GAA in 58 regular-season video games.
When DeBoer was requested Saturday about his conversations with Oettinger for the reason that season ended, the coach mentioned they hadn’t had the chance but to have one.
Oettinger was later requested if he had any considerations about their relationship, and he responded by saying the entire expertise is one thing he would be taught from and that was going to assist him develop to be a greater particular person and goalie.
“My job is to cease the puck. And I really feel like I am the most effective on the earth after I’m enjoying effectively doing that. In order that’s all I am in a deal with,” Oettinger mentioned. “All the additional stuff is simply additional stuff to me. … If I’m going on the market subsequent 12 months and I am the very best goalie on the earth, it would not matter. Considered one of you guys might be teaching, it would not matter. Simply attempt to be the very best I may be, be taught from the expertise.”
It was the third season in a row the Stars misplaced within the West remaining, and Edmonton additionally knocked them out final 12 months. The Oilers completed the 2024 collection with three wins in a row, and this time received the final 4 after Dallas received the opener.
DeBoer mentioned there had been discussions among the many teaching employees earlier than Recreation 4 at Edmonton about whether or not Oettinger perhaps wanted a break, and that the goalie had handled some higher respiratory points in the course of the collection. Whereas that did not occur then, it was at the very least a part of the short in-game change on Thursday, together with the current playoff document towards the Oilers.
“Once you’re in that second, you are making that call, what is going on by my thoughts is, , we have to cease the bleeding right here. Our crew regarded tentative. We’re down 2-0,” DeBoer mentioned. “Behind your thoughts, , is he somewhat bit fatigued, he is been by quite a bit. He is carried us by two rounds, is he going to be a greater goalie in Recreation 6 and seven for us recent.”
Oettinger mentioned he felt nice bodily — “as wholesome as I’ve ever felt” — and felt like he might have performed 40 extra video games. However he did acknowledge the potential psychological grind of one other lengthy season.
