Benched and embarrassed: Jake Oettinger's Game 5 nightmare adds fuel to Stars and Avalanche rivalry
Photo credit: Shafkat Anowar / The Dallas Morning News
Dallas Stars goaltender Jake Oettinger spoke to the media on Saturday, two days after being pulled in Game 5 of the Western Conference Final just seven minutes into the game.
The 6-3 loss ended the Stars' season, marking the second consecutive year they were knocked out of the Western Conference Final by the Edmonton Oilers.
Jake Oettinger's Game 5 nightmare adds fuel to Stars and Avalanche rivalry.
The Stars eliminated the Avalanche from the Stanley Cup Playoffs for a second year in a row, so seeing the aftermath of Dallas' Game 5 loss is somewhat satisfying, to say the least, for Colorado fans.
Antonio Losada from Athlon Sports writes that the 26-year-old netminder allowed goals on the first two shots he faced, prompting head coach Pete DeBoer to make an early goaltending change.
DeBoer wasted no time in pulling Oettinger, turning to backup Casey DeSmith instead, who went on to surrender three additional goals on 20 shots.
On Saturday, Oettinger admitted that the DeBoer's decision caught him off guard...
«It sucked. It was embarrassing.»
Jake Oettinger speaks on being pulled in Game 5
Jake Oettinger speaks on being pulled in Game 5
Oettinger, who watched the remainder of the game beside broadcaster Ray Ferraro after being pulled, admitted it was a tough moment to come to terms with.
"I wasn't expecting that to happen. It was surprising. But the reality is, if I make one or two of those saves, I'd still (be playing) in the game. The way I'm looking at it is, 'How can I get better from that? How can I make those saves that I made all playoffs? How do I make them at the start of that game and give the guys a chance to get their feet under them?' As a goalie, that's your job." -Oettinger
The setminder also said that the experience is one he intends to learn from and use as motivation to improve moving forward.
"My job is to stop the puck. If I go out there next year and I'm the best goalie in the world, it doesn't matter. Just try to be the best I can be, learn from the experience." -Oettinger
Oettinger is set to begin the first year of his eight-year, $66 million contract extension signed in 2024. He wrapped up the season with a .909 save percentage over 58 games and a 2.59 GAA.
| POLL | ||
JUIN 1 | 33 ANSWERS Benched and embarrassed: Jake Oettinger's Game 5 nightmare adds fuel to Stars and Avalanche rivalry Who do you think is a better NHL goalie? | ||
| MacKenzie Blackwood | 19 | 57.6 % |
| Jake Oettinger | 14 | 42.4 % |
| List of polls | ||
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