The Stars look to exact a small measure of revenge against the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday afternoon when the clubs meet in Dallas.
The Stars fell in six games to Connor McDavid and the high-octane Oilers in the Western Conference finals last spring.
Jake Oettinger fared well in that series and by and large during his time playing for Dallas, and the club rewarded its franchise goaltender with an eight-year, $66 million contract extension.
“Jake has established himself as one of the elite goaltenders in the NHL,” Stars general manager Jim Nill said in a statement. “His unique blend of poise, size, athleticism, and mental toughness has helped our team reach new heights since he’s taken over the net. He is an integral part of our core that will allow us to contend for the Stanley Cup this season, but also for many years to come.”
Oettinger has started Dallas off on the right path by winning each of his three games this season. He has stopped 92 of 97 shots, including all 34 in a shutout of the New York Islanders last Saturday.
The 25-year-old is expected to man the crease against Edmonton after the Stars saw their season-opening winning streak halted at four following a 3-2 setback to the host Washington Capitals on Thursday.
Dallas’ fast start to the season does not include its power play, however. The Stars are 1-for-17 with the man advantage.
“It’s time to execute. We’ve got to get a power-play goal in a game like that,” Dallas coach Pete DeBoer said.
Wyatt Johnston extended his season-opening point streak to five games (one goal, four assists) with an assist on Jason Robertson’s goal in the second period.
Johnston collected three goals and two assists during Games 2-5 in last season’s series versus the Oilers.
McDavid totaled 10 points (three goals, seven assists) in that series on his way to winning the Conn Smythe Trophy as the playoff MVP, despite Edmonton falling to the Florida Panthers in the Stanley Cup Final.
McDavid was held off the scoresheet in the season opener before recording five points (one goal, four assists) during his four-game point streak. The three-time Hart Trophy recipient scored his first goal of the season on Thursday, helping the Oilers capture their second straight win with a 4-2 victory over the host Nashville Predators.
Jeff Skinner also tallied to extend his point streak to four games (two goals, two assists). That’s a nice way to start off his first season with the team.
“I think guys have done a great job off the ice making me feel welcome right away, but obviously, there are a lot of guys in here that have been together for a while and have some great chemistry,” Skinner said.
“I think to kind of play off some of those guys, I think it’s going to be an adjustment, but I think it’s gotten better every time I’ve been out there and, hopefully, can keep building.”
Like Dallas, Edmonton’s power play has failed to get untracked this season. The Oilers went 0-for-4 on Thursday and are 1-for-13 on the young season with the man advantage.
–Field Level Media
