If the Dallas Stars hope to claim this year's Stanley Cup, they'll need the hot hand of their No. 1 goaltender.

Being a goaltender in the NHL is no picnic.

Just ask Jake Oettinger. The Dallas Stars' goalie has had his ups and downs this season: brilliant saves at critical moments, injuries, ineffectiveness. During the good times, it's easy to call up confidence. How one handles the pressure when things get tough is what separates the great players from the rest of the pack.

But that's just part of being a goaltender at hockey's highest level. Through it all, the 25-year-old Stars' first-round (26th overall) 2017 draft pick has exuded a calm, composed presence (externally, at least) both in net and off the ice.

That was never more evident than in Dallas's 3-1 road win over the Vancouver Canucks that clinched a berth in the Stanley Cup playoffs. Oettinger stopped 27 of 28 shots including several big saves in the third period to give his team a chance to break through in a tight game that had all the pressure of a playoff atmosphere.

In last Sunday's 4-2 victory in Tempe against the Arizona Coyotes, Oettinger used the paddle of his stick to knock down a shot from Travis Dermott in the third period to keep Arizona from tying the score.

"I like where my game is at," Oettinger said following the Coyotes win.

It's easy to understand why. Oettinger has put together a nice run, winning his last four starts, with a .932 save percentage during that span. It's no coincidence that as his play has ramped up, the Stars are currently in the midst of their longest winning streak of the year at six games.

That hasn't been the case consistently over the course of the season, however. Coming into Thursday night, Oettinger was 31st in the NHL in goals-against average (2.97) and 35th in save percentage (.898). He also ranked 83rd in goals saved above expected.

The most recent low point came on March 14, when Oettinger gave up four goals in 10 shots before being pulled in the second period of a 6-2 loss to the New Jersey Devils.

All too often, players get caught up in the external noise and overthink their struggles. For Oettinger, the key to his success over the past four games is shutting out those distractions and taking things one shot at a time.

Having support from teammates and coaches has done a lot for Oettinger's ability to bounce back.

"One thing about Jake is that he's a smart guy," Stars coach Pete DeBoer said following the Coyotes win. "(Struggles happen) to every elite goalie in the league. I'm glad it's happening now and not a month from now. I'm very confident that he's going to find his elite level again, at the most important time."

That time has come. Even though they have assured themselves a spot in the postseason, the Stars aren't content to stop there. They have a Central Division title and President's Trophy to chase with eight games still remaining on the schedule before setting their sights on a Stanley Cup.

"That's what we're playing for right now and trying to get our game to the level we played it to tonight for the rest of the season," Oettinger said after the Canucks game. "If we play like that, we'll be very confident going into the postseason, and we're trying to win the President's Trophy. It's not every year you can say you're trying to win the President's Trophy."

Is the real Jake Oettinger back? Only time will tell. But if the Stars hope to go further than they did last season when they fell to the Vegas Golden Knights in Game 6 of the Western Conference Final and lift the Stanley Cup, they'll need everything they can get from their No. 1 goaltender. They have the offensive depth and firepower to keep up with most any team, but as Oettinger goes, their playoff results will follow.

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