The Dallas Stars currently stand on the verge of moving on to the Western Conference Final for the third straight season. Along with receiving clutch scoring, Dallas have recipients of some stellar goal tending from Jake Oettinger. Not only has Oettinger closed the door in the closing minutes of recent playoff games, his performance will certainly put him in the Conn Smythe candidacy conversation. 

The Stars and Jake Oettinger set out this postseason, as all teams do, to do better than where they last left off. The Stars are coming off a previous playoff run in 2024 that saw them fall to the Edmonton Oilers in the Western Conference Final. This time around, the Stars look like a team with a new identity, one that they didn't seem to have until their first round playoff matchup against the Colorado Avalanche. The two offensive savvy teams battled back and forth throughout the series, coming to a conclusion in Game 7. The Stars would edge the Avalanche out to set up a second round matchup with the Winnipeg Jets. What has led to the Stars's progression thus far in the playoffs, as well as being on the verge of another Western Conference berth, has been the solid goal tending play from Jake Oettinger. 

Stars Doing Enough to Keep Hellebuyck Off His Game The results for Connor Hellebuyck have not been as cataclysmic as the opening round against the St. Louis Blues, but the <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/dallas-stars">Dallas Stars</a> are doing enough to keep the likely Vezina Trophy winner from finding his stride.

To say Jake Oettinger has been stellar for Dallas thus far, even when the defense in front of him has let him down. It is in the third period where Oettinger shifts his play into another gear. This was evident in the Game 4 as the net minder saw a pickup in action and stopped all 12 shots the Jets desperately threw at the net. While teammate Mikko Rantanen has been historic with his performance thus far for the Stars, ultimately it is goaltending is what has been the difference maker when distinguishing Stanley Cup Champion from Stanley Cup Contender. 

The Minnesota native will have from a casual night in Game 5 as Winnipeg will be in panic mode as they will attempt to get the series back to Dallas for Game 6. With the name of the game being who scores the most goals wins, at the level Jake Oettinger has exhibited lately, will the Jets be able to break through? 

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