The Dallas Stars were one goal away from pulling off the upset over the Calgary Flames. Instead, the team lost 3-2 in overtime, finishing their season, leaving the team heartbroken:
“Everyone played their hearts out,” Stars coach Rick Bowness said. “As a coach, that’s all you can ask. Your players give you everything they’ve got, and I’m proud of the effort they gave. I’m proud of the way we battled. They were a better team in the regular season, and they played well [on Sunday]. Give them credit.”
Of course, Dallas never gets this far without Jake Oettinger — the Stars netminder made 64 saves last night, and finished the first round with a league leading .954 SV% after facing more shots (285) than any other goaltender:
“I’ve never been more motivated than I am right now,” Oettinger said. “I’m going to do everything I can to make sure that I get this opportunity again, and I’ll make sure I’m on the other side of it the next time. I have a lot of stuff I want to work on. I feel like I’m just scratching the surface of where I’m going to be one day. That excites me.”
You can read more from Mike Heika here.
Stars Stories
Some more Jake Oettinger appreciation:
Jake Oettinger in Game 7.
– Stars franchise record 64 saves
– Second-most saves in a Game 7 in NHL history
– 3.75 goals saved above expected (@NatStatTrick)
– 2.76 goals saved above expected (@MoneyPuckdotcom)
– Franchise record 272 saves in the series, third-most in NHL history pic.twitter.com/9TZ4Ykl8vN— Matthew DeFranks (@MDeFranks) May 16, 2022
I mean, he’s even getting national attention:
As the @DallasStars look to the future, Jake Oettinger is going to be a major part of it, and he’s only just getting started, writes @StevenEllisTHN: https://t.co/tCkitdj41n
— The Hockey News (@TheHockeyNews) May 16, 2022
Saad Yousuf gives his thoughts on the game and the series at large:
Jake Oettinger did everything in his power to drag the Stars to the second round.
It wasn’t enough.More on the epic Game 7 performance from the Stars young goaltender and what the scene was like in Calgary at the Saddledome as the Stars’ season ended👇🏽https://t.co/5x6OZh0CnM
— Saad Yousuf (@SaadYousuf126) May 16, 2022
While most players are done for the year, Miro Heiskanen is off to Finland to join the World Championship:
Tervetuloa Miro! Heiskanen mukaan Leijonien MM-joukkueeseen: https://t.co/hwlFfSr2UK#Leijonat #MMkisat #2022IIHFWorlds #IIHFWorlds
Kuva: AP / Lehtikuva pic.twitter.com/dtA8z9w4WT— Leijonat (@leijonat) May 16, 2022
Around the League
The other Game 7 last night also went to overtime, with the New York Rangers knocking out the Pittsburgh Penguins with a 4-3 win:
Rangers vs Penguins: OT Thriller Pushes Blueshirts on to the Second Round https://t.co/VIT2Lr7XbA
— Blueshirt Banter (@BlueshirtBanter) May 16, 2022
Suffice to say, it’s been a close Stanley Cup playoffs so far:
Four #Game7 matchups in the First Round were decided by a one-goal margin – one shy of the most in one YEAR in #StanleyCup Playoffs history.
What will the eight remaining teams bring to the table in the Second Round? #NHLStats: https://t.co/R68KwdRbCs pic.twitter.com/vy4zLfuiKJ
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) May 16, 2022
Here’s the full schedule for Round 2, highlighted (unfortunately) by the Battle of Alberta:
Get ready for a 🔥 second round!
Full Round 2 schedule. ⤵️https://t.co/HgdyhICt8H
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) May 16, 2022
Elsewhere, the other 8 teams have a lot to think about this offseason, although perhaps no more intensively than the Toronto Maple Leafs:
So what now for the Maple Leafs: Run it back, or blow it all up?
It’s a tough question, so I arranged a debate between two fans with completely different views on the subject, both of which are me.https://t.co/vNIjeAaIf4 pic.twitter.com/41M9K0mdW2
— Down Goes Brown (@DownGoesBrown) May 16, 2022