Otter stops a puck, like usual. Photo: Matthew Pearce/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Jake Oettinger, the Dallas Stars goaltender, thrives in the postseason.
Why it matters: The Stars need their goalie to be at his best as they face Winnipeg and hope to go further in the playoffs.
State of save: Oettinger has a .917 save percentage in 11 postseason games — a better percentage than during the regular season (.909).
He has been better than Winnipeg goalie Connor Hellebuyck in the postseason. Hellebuyck has a .851 playoff save percentage, compared to his .925 save percentage in the regular season.
The intrigue: Oettinger was Hellebuyck's backup for Team USA during the 4 Nations Face-Off, a precursor to the 2026 Winter Olympics.
What they're saying: Oettinger should be the primary goaltender for Team USA in February, the Athletic's Mark Lazerus argues in a recent article.
"Hellebuyck might be the best goalie in the world, but Oettinger's the one you can trust when it matters most," Lazerus says.
What we love: Stars fans have chanted "Otter's better" at Dallas games against the Jets. Oettinger seems unflappable. His teammates trust him.
In the rare moments a puck gets past him, Otter straightens, grabs his water bottle, taps it on the goal, takes a sip and moves on as if it never happened.
What's next: The winner of the series will face the Edmonton Oilers in the Western Conference Finals.
The Stars lost to the Oilers in last year's finals. The Oilers ultimately lost in the Stanley Cup Finals to the Florida Panthers.
