Jake Oettinger backstopped Dallas to their sixth victory in eight games to start the campaign.
Jake Oettinger backstopped Dallas to their sixth victory in eight games to start the campaign.
DALLAS - Goaltender Jake Oettinger’s numbers after six starts speak for themselves.
With a remarkable 43-save effort in Wednesday night’s 4-3 victory over the Flames in Calgary, Oettinger improved his record to a sparkling 5-0-1 this season.
The 24-year-old Lakeville, MN native also boasts a 1.95 goals-against average and a .939 save percentage after surrendering just 12 goals on 197 shots overall.
“He’s a rock for us. He has been since I’ve been there,” praised head coach Pete DeBoer, following the win at Scotiabank Saddledome. “You take it for granted. You get used to it that you have a guy like that, but he’s elite and he’s been our best player on almost every night he’s played.”
Oettinger was especially good in the third period when he faced 22 shots and only MacKenzie Weegar managed to solve him to make it a one-goal affair with 17:40 remaining in regulation.
The Stars' starter stood tall the rest of the way, though, with a little help from his teammates, including defensemen Ryan Suter and Esa Lindell.
Suter sacrificed his body and made an outstanding block with just under 12 minutes left, while Lindell's kick save on the goal line came with only 54 seconds to play.
"We hope to be in the position a lot with the lead in the third, and it’s never going to be pretty," said Oettinger. "The boys pulled one off the goal line and our guys blocked some shots and made some little plays that we needed to win. We’re going to have to win like that down the stretch."
Always humble, Oettinger is quietly going about his business and leading the charge for a group that sits second in the Central Division with a 6-1-1 record and 13 points, one point behind the Avalanche.
"I feel pretty good. I think the team’s played well in front of me. I’ve just got to do my job, make a few big saves every night. They bailed me out a few times tonight," he concluded. "I was kind of all over the place a little bit, but that happens. It was just a great effort."
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The Stars are back in action on Thursday night with a matchup against the Oilers at Rogers Place. Puck drop is 8:00 p.m. CT.
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