Jake Oettinger, the goaltender for the Dallas Stars, can’t wait for the day when he can look back and laugh at how last season ended. In Game 5 of the Western Conference Final, he was yanked from the game after letting in two goals on the only shots he faced. Oettinger believes that in the grand scheme of things, this experience will eventually benefit him. He expressed this sentiment on Thursday as the team’s training camp kicked off, stating, “When we do win it all, it’s going to be, you know, look back and laugh and feel like that was something I had to go through in order to get to that.”
The Stars have made it to the playoffs for four consecutive seasons with Oettinger guarding the net. Unfortunately, they fell short in the conference final for the past three seasons, with the Edmonton Oilers eliminating them in the last two. The decision to pull Oettinger just 7:09 into the 6-3 loss in May raised eyebrows and sparked discussions about the dynamics between the now-former Stars coach Pete DeBoer and the 26-year-old goalie. Despite signing an eight-year, $66 million contract extension last October, tensions seemed to be high between the two following the goalie switch during the crucial game.
DeBoer’s decision to pull Oettinger was a topic of debate, but he stood by his choice. However, he did express regret about how he handled the aftermath of the game. In a recent interview with NHL.com, DeBoer admitted that the blame for the team’s shortcomings fell on everyone, not just one individual. Oettinger, on the other hand, acknowledged the coach’s comments and seemed to agree with his assessment. With an impressive record in both regular-season and playoff games, Oettinger has proven himself as a top-tier goalie in the league. His dedication to improvement and his teammates’ trust in him make him a valuable asset to the team, according to teammate Mikko Rantanen.
