Heika's Take: Oettinger handled it all

After backstopping the Stars to a perfect 2-0 record against the New York Islanders this season, you can simply call Jake Oettinger the King of the Island.
To go with his 2-0 mark against the Isles is a sparkling 1.44 goals-against average and .947 save percentage. Oettinger allowed just three goals in 125 minutes against New York this season.

Oettinger came up with 27 saves and then stopped all three shooters in the shootout to push the Stars to a 2-1 win over the Islanders.
Without his performance, the Stars would not have been able to shake the scunge of a two-game road trip in California.
Without his performance, Denis Gurianov wouldn't have received key overtime minutes in his return from a nine-game absence.
Without his performance, coach Pete DeBoer wouldn't be manning the bench at the 2023 All-Star weekend in Sunrise, Florida.
There was that much on the line - and Oettinger handled it all.
"He was awesome tonight," said DeBoer, who earned the All-Star berth by virtue of the team's best record in the Central Division on Jan. 11. "If not his best performance on the year, one of them. You kind of get used to the level he plays at, but he was exceptional."

The 24-year-old still is in his first full season as an NHL No. 1 goalie, yet he ranks third in wins with 19, fourth in GAA at 2.23 and sixth in save percentage at .924. What's more, he is coming up with saves at a time when the Stars really need them. He held them in early against San Jose, and his teammates eventually forged a 5-1 win on Sunday. On Tuesday, Dallas marched into UBS Arena and somehow managed to hold off a hungry Islanders team. Oettinger was the key, of course, but the Stars got their legs, and ended up the better team in overtime and the shootout.
"We're starting to get a little confidence,' said forward Joe Pavelski. "Those are big points, they come in handy at the end."

The Stars are now 3-6 in overtime and shootouts, so the win was a big one. Dallas found great success in the extra period last season, however has struggled during the extra frames this year. That said, overcoming those problems would be a huge boost in the second half of the season.
"I think we needed that," DeBoer said. "I think Jake needed it. I think our group needed it. Robo, obviously, big goal in regulation and big goal in the shootout. He's done it all year for us, too. It was an important two points."
Robertson has five goals in the past five games and has broken out of a mini slump. He has 29 on the season and is on pace to have the most goals in a season for any player in franchise history. His teammates believe he can. And as for the shootout, Oettinger said he always has confidence in Robertson.
"He's a stud, and I never want to face him in a shootout," Oettinger said with a smile.

It's an odd part of the game, but it can make a big difference in the standings. Winnipeg went into the night needing a win to send their coach, Rick Bowness, to the All-Star Game. When the Jets lost, they opened the door for DeBoer.
"It's a great honor," DeBoer said. "I get to go, but it's really our entire staff and players and support staff and trainers and Jim Nill and all of his group. It's a culmination of all those people's work to get us to this point. So, I'll go and enjoy it on their behalf."
In the meantime, Dallas gained points on three Central Division teams. The Stars now sit 25-11-6 for 56 points. The Jets are in second at 53 points, Minnesota is third at 48 points, and the Blues are fourth at 45 points. That's a good place to be.
"We all know what we're capable of in here, a lot of world-class players in this locker room here," Oettinger said. "I think we believe that we can beat anyone when we play the right way and play our game."
And part of this is finding little victories even in big wins. Denis Gurianov returned after missing nine games due to a family situation back in Russia and played a strong game. He was given a shift in overtime and took one of the shootout attempts.
"I think it was important for the team," DeBoer said. "We tried to get Gury out there in overtime, we tried to get him out there in the shootout. He's been through a real tough personal situation over the past month. The guys were pulling for him, and we wanted to give him an opportunity to contribute."
It was an opportunity given by Oettinger, but DeBoer made the most of it. And that's a pretty good night in an 82-game season.
This story was not subject to the approval of the National Hockey League or Dallas Stars Hockey Club.
Mike Heika is a Senior Staff Writer for DallasStars.com and has covered the Stars since 1994. Follow him on Twitter @MikeHeika.