HIGHLIGHTS
- Jake Oettinger spoke on being benched in Game 5 against the Oilers
- The Dallas Stars netminder gave up two goals in the first period before getting yanked
- Read below to see what he said
The Dallas Stars fell short of their Stanley Cup dreams once again, losing on Thursday in five games to the Edmonton Oilers in the Western Conference Finals. Netminder Jake Oettinger had a rough series, allowing 16 goals.
The 28-year-old was surprisingly pulled in the first period of Game 5 by head coach Pete DeBoer after giving up two early goals. Casey DeSmith came in to replace him, but the Stars ultimately lost 6-3.
Oettinger, who was phenomenal all season and also in the first two rounds of the playoffs, spoke on being benched during Saturday’s media availability and gave a very classy take on DeBoer’s decision to make a change.
Via USA Today:
“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 in that game at the start of the game to give the guys a chance to get their feet under them,” he said. “As a goalie, that’s your job. I’ve got to do better than that.”
The Stars’ goaltender explained how he wants to use that moment as motivation for the future:
“Bad stuff happens to people. Life is tough. It makes it when you finally get that win, it makes it all worth it. Hopefully, whether it’s next year, whether it’s five years from now and I’m looking at you guys (media), we just won the Stanley Cup and I say, ‘Remember all that BS. That was all for this.’ ”
Oettinger made it clear how confident he is in himself as well:
“My job is to stop the puck and I feel like I’m one of the best in the world when I’m playing well doing that,” Oettinger continued. “All the extra’s stuff is just extra stuff to me, so if I go out there next year and I’m the best goalie in the world, it doesn’t matter.”
Oettinger was unfortunately on the ESPN broadcast more often than he would’ve liked after getting yanked due to Ray Ferraro’s position on the camera. He admitted that it was embarrassing, but the American netminder will simply use this setback to be better next year.
For what it’s worth, DeBoer also praised Oettinger Saturday, but he said the two haven’t spoken since the Game 5 defeat. Oettinger is clearly the Stars’ No.1, and to be fair, he didn’t get much help from his offense in the conference finals, either.
