Oettinger and Lindgren faceoff for the second time

Goalies typically are focused on the shooters in front of them, but Jake Oettinger might have his eye on the other end of the rink a little bit on Thursday.
Oettinger grew up with Charlie Lindgren in Lakeville, Minn., so facing the Washington goalie is always fun. Lindgren is 28 and Oettinger 23, so there is an age gap, but the two work out together in the summer, and Lindgren was always a mentor to Oettinger.

"He's a guy I looked up to a lot," Oettinger said. "He played a few years ahead of me in high school. I'm good buddies with his younger brother too. It's a great family and he's a guy who has worked for everything he's got. He's 1-0 against me, so hopefully we can change that up."

Lindgren was playing with St. Louis last year when he took a 4-1 win over the Stars, so Oettinger is looking for some payback. Lindgren has played well in all his meetings against Dallas, posting a 2-1-0 record with a 2.03 GAA and .929 save percentage. He is 7-3-2 on the season with a 2.81 GAA and .909 save percentage.
Oettinger is 11-4-3 with a 2.40 GAA and .916 save percentage.
"He and I are both extremely competitive and obviously I want him to do well, just maybe not tonight," Oettinger said. "You're not really playing against the other guy down there, but when you know him really well, it kind of feels that way. It should be fun."
Complicating the battle is the fact Oettinger also will be facing Alex Ovechkin, who scored his 800th career goal on Tuesday and can catch Gordie Howe at 801 for second place in league history.
"I'm hoping I can put an end to what he's been doing lately," Oettinger said. "It's just fun to play against the all-time greats."
The Stars are hoping to win the game, obviously, but also to keep Ovechkin off the board. It's a pride thing.
"That's not our whole focus, but any time you're talking about Washington you have to be aware of him," said Stars coach Pete DeBoer. "He's going to get his looks and you have to defend him with numbers."

Ovechkin ranks sixth in the league in goal scoring at 20 and has 34 points in 31 games. The Stars have done a good job of holding him in check over the years, limiting him to 17 points (11 goals, 6 assists) in 23 games.
Key Numbers
14-4-1
The Stars are 14-4-1 against the Capitals in their past 19 games.
19
Washington has scored 19 first period goals, 28th in the league. Dallas has allowed 19 first period goals, tied for sixth best in the NHL.
800
Washington forward Alex Ovechkin hit 800 career goals on Tuesday. He is one shy of tying Gordie Howe for second all-time at 801.
He said it
"He's going to tough areas and finding ways to get sticks on pucks, to do the right things. That's what it takes to have long careers."
-Stars defenseman Ryan Suter on forward Ty Dellandrea, who tipped a Suter shot in for a goal Tuesday against New Jersey.
Expected lineup
Robertson-Hintz-Pavelski
Marchment-Seguin-Dellandrea
Benn-Johnston-Gurianov
Kiviranta-Faksa-Glendening
Heiskanen-Lundkvist
Lindell-Hakanpaa
Suter-Miller
Oettinger
Wedgewood
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.