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Dallas Stars Daily Links: How The Postseason Is Changing Jake Oettinger’s Game

The boy in the bubble is looking to grow into his NHL future, writes Sean Shapiro. Plus, the Jets are flying home, the NHL Draft Lottery approaches, and more.

Jake Oettinger knows what the NHL expects from a first-round draft pick. He also knows that the short list of goaltenders who have received that honor in the past decade includes only one unquestioned big-league success.

The path to becoming the Dallas Stars’ answer to Andrei Vasilevskiy is long and uncertain. But Oettinger’s time with the team in Edmonton’s Western Conference bubble is already changing his game, writes Sean Shapiro:

He’s not playing games, but Oettinger is getting more NHL-level work in Edmonton than he’s ever received in his life. Oettinger is getting one-on-one work with Stars goalie coach Jeff Reese while serving as the third goalie for the Stars’ main group before continuing to practice with the taxi squad. When Bishop was unfit to play on Wednesday against the Colorado Avalanche, Oettinger also served as Anton Khudobin’s backup in the Stars second round-robin game.

But the observation time watching other NHL goalies from the Stars’ suite in Rogers arena has helped him just as much as his time on the ice. Oettinger has recognized key attributes from both Khudobin and Bishop that he needs to steal if he’s going to be a successful NHL goalie.

The opportunity to watch Bishop in action every day has been especially educational (and is an opportunity that Oettinger and Vasilevskiy have had in common). There’s also been much to learn from Khudobin, one of the league’s shortest, and most assertive, netminders:

For Bishop, it starts with the mental game. The Stars’ starter isn’t the greatest technical goalie, in part due to his massive 6’7 frame, but his hockey IQ is amongst the best in the NHL. Oettinger called Bishop’s hockey IQ the highest he’s ever seen, and the veteran goalie hasn’t had any issue sharing notes with the prospect....

“[Khudobin] reads the plays so well, but he knows his game so well,” Oettinger said. “His battle and compete level is second-to-none, I think if you can combine the patience and poise that Bish has and then have the battle and compete that Dobby has, those are the best assets from both guys. Those are the things I want to have in my game.”

There’s much more behind the paywall. [The Athletic DFW]

Stars Stuff

Mike Heika and Razor take on the most pressing issue of our times.

Meanwhile, The Dallas Morning News’ Tim Cowlishaw sticks his head into the NHL action long enough to draw some conclusions.

Does Denis Gurianov just need more playoffs experience? Matthew DeFranks examines his play against the Colorado Avalanche to look for answers.

Around The League(s)

In On The #Kill Taker

  • The Minnesota Wild got blanked 3-0 by Jacob Markstrom and the Vancouver Canucks, with Quinn Hughes and Antoine Roussel helping to lead the charge. [Nucks Misconduct]
  • Alex Tuch and Shea Theodore each got two biscuits as the St. Louis Blues lost a high-scoring sweepstakes to the Vegas Golden Knights, 6-4. [St. Louis Game Time]
  • And the injury-hobbled Winnipeg Jets are going home after taking a third loss – this one a 4-0 shutout – from Cam Talbot and the Calgary Flames. [Arctic Ice Hockey]/

Friday will be a busy night for bubble teams. Who will you have your eye on?

Also from NHL.com: The Carolina Hurricanes not only have a goalie tandem, they have a plan to deploy them both.

In the midst of all this Stanley Cup action, let us not forget that this happens on Monday at 5 p.m. Central time.

Finally

Because yeah, you still miss this guy. Enjoy.

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