U.S. backup Oettinger outplaying starter Hellebuyck with Stars up 3-1 over Jets

DALLAS (AP) — Winnipeg Jets followers have showered Jake Oettinger with chants referring to his position because the USA Hockey backup goalie to Connor Hellebuyck in the course of the 4 Nations Face-Off earlier this yr.

Effectively, that “U.S. backup” has Dallas on the verge of its third consecutive journey to the Western Convention Remaining. Oettinger has principally outplayed Hellebuyck all through these NHL playoffs and within the second-round Western Convention collection that the Stars lead 3-1 over the top-seeded Jets.

“Not personal at all. Just trying to beat a good team. There’s a lot of other things going on other than me versus Connor,” Oettinger mentioned after his 31-save efficiency in a 3-1 win at house in Recreation 4. “He’s been good and gave them a chance to win, and I’m expecting his best game of the season next game.”

That will probably be Recreation 5 in Winnipeg on Thursday night time, the primary alternative for the Stars to shut out the collection.

The 26-year-old Dallas goalie is 7-4 with a .917 save proportion this postseason, permitting 10 targets the previous 5 video games. The newest was one he in all probability ought to have stopped in Recreation 4, however the puck slid underneath his legs for a tying aim a minute into the second interval.

“Great response … unflappable. Our history with him, there was no panic on the bench. They knew that with Jake, that one goal like that, it wasn’t going to bleed into four or five, that he had the mental toughness to recover quickly,” Stars coach Pete DeBoer mentioned Wednesday. “And he did, and he was our best player the rest of the way.”

Hellebuyck’s postseason troubles

Whereas Hellebuyck is the odds-on favourite to win his third Vezina Trophy, that award is for the highest goalie of the common season. It has been one other troublesome postseason thus far for the Michigan-born goalie who turns 32 on Monday — which might be the day of a Recreation 7 at house that the Jets must drive for an opportunity to advance.

Hellebuyck is 5-6 with an .851 save proportion and three.48 goals-against common within the playoffs, after a league-high 47 wins and eight shutouts within the common season with a .925 save proportion and a couple of.00 GAA. He has misplaced his previous 9 highway playoff begins since 2023, together with 0-5 with a 5.84 GAA this yr.

“Every loss is frustrating,” Hellebuyck mentioned. “That being mentioned, I’m actually trying ahead to the following one. Go away all of it on the market.”

Will probably be at house, the place Hellebuyck had a 21-save shutout because the Jets received 4-0 in Recreation 2. He has precisely 21 saves in every of the 4 video games towards the Stars.

Winnipeg has scored solely 5 targets in its three losses to the Stars. Its solely lead in these was for five minutes, 13 seconds in Recreation 1 earlier than Mikko Rantanen’s second-period hat monitor.

“At the end of the day, we’ve got to get him some run support. He’ll do his job,” Jets coach Scott Arniel mentioned of his goalie. “We’ve got to get him the lead, we’ve got to get out in front. Make this team chase us, instead of us chasing them like we have in the last couple of games.”

Mikael Granlund had a hat trick towards Hellebuyck in Recreation 4, with a aim in every interval.

Oettinger’s targets

Oettinger, already in his fourth consecutive postseason, has talked concerning the apparent aim of eager to win a Stanley Cup. He additionally desires to be the beginning goalie for the USA within the 2026 Milan Olympics.

“I still consider him a really young goaltender, so, yeah I mean he’s special,” DeBoer mentioned. “He’s been to two conference finals now and I think he’s looking to find a way to make sure we go further this year.”

Hellebuyck was the No. 1 goalie for the Individuals on the 4 Nations event in February, once they completed because the runner-up to Canada.

Stars followers in Recreation 4 on Tuesday night time acquired an opportunity to chant “Otter’s better!, Otter’s better!”

“It’s been unreal. Just can’t help but put a smile on your face when the crowd’s chanting your name and stuff,” Oettinger said. “Hopefully I can continue to play well, and they can continue chanting my name.”

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