Oettinger's resilience needed for Stars to avoid elimination in Game 4

DALLAS --For Jake Oettinger, it was a hollow feeling sitting on the bench when he was pulled after allowing three goals on five shots barely seven minutes into the first period.

"You pretty much feel like you want to cry," the Dallas Stars goalie said of his brief performance in a 4-0 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights in Game 3 of the Western Conference Final on Tuesday.

"You put your whole season into this, and you want to play your best in these moments. When you can't do that for your team and your fans, that's one of the worst feelings in the world. It's part of the position. People say the ups and downs, these are the downs."

When Oettinger has been down, he's usually found a way to get back up fast. The Stars will be counting on that when they try to stave off elimination in Game 4 at American Airlines Center on Thursday (8 p.m. ET; ESPN, ESPN+, CBC, SN, TVAS).

RELATED: [Complete Golden Knights vs. Stars series coverage]

Oettinger is on a three-game losing streak, something he's never experienced in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Entering Game 2 against Vegas, he was 22-1-3 with a 2.02 goals-against average and .933 save percentage following a loss in the regular season and postseason.

That resilience is what the Stars need in Game 4. They're confident they're going to get it.

"They made some elite shots and some elite plays," said goalie Scott Wedgewood, who made 10 saves on 11 shots in relief of Oettinger in Game 3. "We have to be a little more dialed as a group, but I'm not worried about that kid."

Oettinger, 24, was outstanding during a six-game win against the Minnesota Wild in the Western Conference First Round (2.01 GAA, .929 save percentage, one shutout) but sputtered at times against the Seattle Kraken in the second round. He was replaced by Wedgewood in the third period of a 7-2 loss in Game 3, when he gave up five goals on 17 shots, and pulled after allowing four goals on 18 shots during a 6-3 loss in Game 6.

He rebounded with victories in Games 4 and 7.

"You just learn that that's what these playoffs are all about and that's what the great goalies do," Oettinger said. "I'm going to go out there tomorrow and give my team a chance to win and just go from there."

Oettinger had a heavy workload throughout the season, going 37-11-11 with a 2.37 GAA, .919 save percentage and five shutouts in 62 games (61 starts). He didn't get much of a break when Wedgewood was out from Feb. 19-April 3 with a lower-body injury and rookie Matt Murray started three games.

"I know talking to him he says he feels great, doesn't feel any energy issues and those are conversations we've had every day," Stars coach Peter DeBoer said. "We've limited his practice time, things like that."

On Wednesday, Oettinger appreciated having some time to practice.

"I had a great skate today," he said. "First time in a long time that I've been able to put in a ton of work on a practice day, so I feel really good right now.

"Just got back to the basics and I'll take it one shot at a time for the rest of this series. It's the first team to four wins. They don't have that yet, so it's not over and I think every guy in this room believes we can come back."

Oettinger has come through with big performances. The Stars need another one to keep their playoff run alive.

"I'm never going to give up, I'm never going to stop believing in myself," he said. "I'm going to go out there tomorrow and put it all on the line and put my best foot forward."