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Dallas Stars Daily Links: Defense Wins Championships

Can Phenomenotter get over the hump and win a Stanley Cup with Dallas?

Posted on by Harlan Bowling
Feb 25, 2025; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Dallas Stars goalie Jake Oettinger (29) makes a save against the Columbus Blue Jackets during the second period at Nationwide Arena. Mandatory Credit: Russell LaBounty-Imagn Images
Credit: Russell LaBounty-Imagn Images

Jake Oettinger doesn’t have many detractors. That is, if you exclude some of the Dallas Stars Facebook groups I’m in. To be fair, when people post to groups, many of them are just looking for a reaction. Some are just trolls looking to stir the pot. But occasionally, they hit the right note, and you wonder if they might be just a little bit right.

Right out of the gate, I want to be on record saying I believe Otter is the goaltender that we can rely on in a Stanley Cup run. Stars fans have been fortunate throughout the years to have solid goaltending, even when the lines in front of them were questionable. Look no further than this year.

However, goaltenders don’t exist in a vacuum, and Dallas is a case study in distinguishing goaltending from team defense. It’s true that the Stars haven’t allowed many goals. Dallas is very successful at defending Oettinger from having to stop high-quality shots on the penalty kill. However, the Stars drop from a top-five goal-suppression team on the penalty kill to 12th at even strength and 15th in shot quality allowed. In other words, they’re spending 80 percent of each game grappling with a lot of questions about how well they can suppress goals.

Which points to the glaring issue we face currently – team defense. Granted, the Stars are having to make do with their top blue liner sitting in street clothes at the games. But questions also arise about what the Stars did, or didn’t do, in the offseason – and what they might do before the trade deadline next week. Even still, the questions remain about whether the Stars goaltending can bail them out of a tough stretch.

Then there are the questions that are reflective of Oettinger himself. We know he’s good, but how good? Does he have a next level?
…
Oettinger has been varying degrees of good (the best goalie analysis I’ve ever seen actually uses this as a mathematical category) throughout his career, with stretches of competence accompanying stretches of brilliance. The end result is a goaltender who doesn’t steal a lot of games but won’t lose them, either.

It’s an interesting question for sure. Just how good is Jake Oettinger? And does he have what it takes to get over the hump? Excellent, excellent piece as usual from David Castillo over at D Magazine. Absolutely worth a read.

Dallas Stars Stuff

The Stars are getting a couple of much-needed days off before hitting the ice again tomorrow at home. In the meantime, we had a couple of birthdays!

Also, get yourself a hype man like Mush…

Elsewhere in the Central

There were just a couple games in the dirty Central last night.

  • The Winnipeg Jets smoked the Ottawa Senators 4-1 up north last night, and are looking like they might never lose again. [RECAP]
  • The Colorado Avalanche exploded late in the third period to make a close game look, well, less so – winning 5-1 over the New Jersey Devils at home. [RECAP]

Around the NHL

Longevity.

This is going to be the last time I bring up the Tkachuks for a while, I promise.

Winnipeg looks scary. No joke.

Greetings from Scenic Cedar Park and Beautiful Boise!

The Texas Stars got a big win last night at home.

The Steelheads lost a hard fought game at the wire last night, so I’m going to focus on the debut goal instead…

Finally

I simply love that the Stars organization is unapologetically for EVERYONE.

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