Stars expect success with Khudobin entering Game 2 of Western Final

Anton Khudobin has the Dallas Stars three wins from the Stanley Cup Final, and coach Rick Bowness said he's not the least bit surprised that their backup goalie has helped them get this far.

Khudobin has started 14 of 17 games with No. 1 goalie Ben Bishop unfit to play most of the postseason. He made 25 saves in a 1-0 victory against the Vegas Golden Knights in Game 1 of the Western Conference Final on Sunday.
"We've had Khudobin] for two years now," Bowness said Monday. "He's played the same way now as he has for two years. We don't make the [Stanley Cup] Playoffs last year without Anton. [Bishop]*
Game 2 is at Rogers Place in Edmonton, the hub city for the conference finals and Cup Final, on Tuesday (8 p.m. ET, NBCSN, CBC, TVAS, SN).
Khudobin is 99-76-25 with a 2.46 GAA and .919 save percentage in 218 games over 11 seasons with the Stars, Boston Bruins, Anaheim Ducks, Carolina Hurricanes and Minnesota Wild, but he had never started a playoff game before this season and had played in only two.
"We know he hasn't started (playoff) games before and doesn't have a lot of playoff experience, but that doesn't waver the confidence in him from our players," Bowness said. "It's based on what we've watched for two years -- his personality in the room and his work habits and everything else that he brings to the table. We need him to play this well. You need strong goaltending or you're not going anywhere. But none of us are surprised by what we're seeing."
Khudobin is 9-5 with a 2.74 GAA and .914 save percentage in 15 games in the postseason. After becoming the 10th-oldest goalie to earn his first NHL playoff shutout (34 years, 122 days), he said he was focused, not stressed, during the tight-checking Game 1 victory.
"You have to get the result, right?" he said. "Even when it's 4-4 and going to overtime, it still doesn't matter, you try to stop the puck because it's a really close game. One goal really matters ... There's always, I wouldn't say stress, but you always have to be focused."

That's exactly what makes Khudobin the right goalie in the right place at the right time for the Stars, according to David Marcoux, who was Khudobin's goaltending coach with the Hurricanes in 2014-15.
"It's all about the next save," Marcoux said. "He knows the type of team they have. They're not the New York Islanders where they perfectly play within the Barry Trotz system. This is the Dallas Stars, and you can expect the unexpected with this team, and (he says), 'I'll just try to be like (Hockey Hall of Fame goalie) Grant Fuhr and make sure that I make the last save, whatever crazy type of game we do have.'"
Marcoux said determination, maturity and a personality that endears him to teammates have brought Khudobin to this opportunity for success in the postseason.
"He never, ever sees himself as a backup," Marcoux said. "He never did, never will. For a long time, it didn't work out for him. But his mindset was to never accept it. I've heard him talking about how his mindset evolved, that instead of being frustrated by not playing, he matured and decided it's a good life and it's worth enjoying. He decided to come to the rink and have fun and see how it goes. This is the opportunity he's been waiting for, and he's cherishing every moment of it and taking advantage of it.
"It's fun to see him stick with it. The glass is always half full for him, and he sees it as an opportunity to win the Stanley Cup. I can tell he's enjoying the ride."