Heika's Take: Stars content to get a point, disappointed not to get two

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- There's an old hockey saying about a "good point" or a "bad point" following an overtime or shootout loss because there are times you're really happy to get a point and times you're kind of disappointed.

The Stars on Thursday may have found a way to get both.
Playing on the second night of a back-to-back and handed some travel challenges in addition, the Stars were able to squeeze a point out of a 2-1 shootout loss to the Nashville Predators. That's good. However, they also were the better team for much of the game and couldn't cash in on an overtime power play or in the shootout. That's bad.
Stars coach Rick Bowness split the difference.
"That's a good point," he said. "And we deserved two."

The Predators have played one more game than the Stars and sit at 30-18-4, good for 64 points. Dallas is at 28-20-3 and has 59 points. The two rivals are in a pack of teams that are all trying to claim one of the two wild card playoff spots in the Western Conference. While there still is plenty of season left, and either squad could move up with a good run, there's a very good chance they'll be in a pack with three or four Pacific Division teams who also could be scrapping for one of the last tickets to the postseason party.
That was pretty clear watching Thursday's game. The Predators were fired up after retiring the No. 35 of goalie Pekka Rinne before the game. The Stars were ready to go from the opening drop after earning an overtime win against Winnipeg on Wednesday.
But both teams responded well, and the sellout crowd was treated to a game that had playoff-like intensity.
"We knew these last two games were going to be intense, playoff style, low scoring, tight checking," said defenseman Ryan Suter. "It was a battle, and it was good."

Both teams threw checks readily, and that added to the intensity. Roope Hintz had several scoring chances early, and that added to the intensity. Dallas handed Nashville eight minutes of power-play time in the second period, and that added to the intensity.
It was a good game. Juuse Saros stopped 27 shots for the Predators, while Jake Oettinger stopped 19 for the Stars. Both were tested, both responded on a night when goaltending seemed to be the theme.
The performance for the 23-year-old Oettinger was especially encouraging. He won an overtime game Wednesday in Dallas and was expected to fly into Nashville right after the game. However, the Stars were stuck on their team plane for about an hour because of weather and decided to fly on Thursday instead. Oettinger rolled with the punches and looked good doing so.
"Jake wants the ball. He wants to run with it," Bowness said. "You've got to love that about him. If you asked him to go to practice tomorrow for an hour, he'd be the first guy on the ice."
Oettinger said he likes testing himself and he felt Saros won the battle on Thursday. That said, he also said he enjoyed the competition.
"Saros, he's one of the best goalies in the league and a great way to measure where you're at," Oettinger said. "He's the reason Nashville is where they are right now. I want to be the backbone for this team like he is for them."

Oettinger is 6-2-1 in his last nine starts with a 1.85 GAA, and a .937 save percentage. He's definitely proving to be a pretty strong backbone for the Stars.
"Kudos to him," said Jason Robertson. "He was dialed in and made some key saves. You can see those things in a true No. 1 goalie. It's inspiring."

The Stars had the opportunity to get Oettinger a win, but couldn't finish the job, They had a power play in overtime and then couldn't score on four shootout attempts, which left them feeling a little disappointed.
Still, it was good to get a point.
"The last 24 hours have been a crazy time, but we came out and competed," Suter said. "It wasn't for lack of effort. Shootouts can go either way. We weren't able to capitalize in the shootout and it cost us a point."
Don't miss the Stars as they return home to take on the Buffalo Sabres on Sunday at 1 p.m. Get your tickets now!
This story was not subject to the approval of the National Hockey League or Dallas Stars Hockey Club.
Mike Heikais a Senior Staff Writer for DallasStars.com and has covered the Stars since 1994. Follow him on Twitter @MikeHeika.