"He's a superstar goalie in this league," captain Jamie Benn said after Oettinger stopped 27 shots to record his fifth career shutout. "We seem to keep talking about him, which is a great thing. I've said it before, and I'll say it again: He's a professional. He prepares well, he's got a great mindset going into games and shuts the door pretty much every night."
It's impressive when you consider this is the first full season as a No. 1 goalie for the 24-year-old. He is dealing with different levels of pressure after signing a three-year contract in the summer averaging $4.0 million and being handed the top responsibility in net, but he's responded well. Oettinger is tied for fourth in wins at 20-6-4, ranks second in save percentage at .928 and third in goals against average at 2.21.
During the month of January alone he's posted a 3-1-1 record with a 1.38 GAA and .953 save percentage.
Stars coach Pete DeBoer said Oettinger is working himself into a groove. He missed four games earlier in the season with a lower body injury and now is fully recovered from that. DeBoer said Oettinger has been a fantastic security blanket for the team.
"Every coach is looking for that," DeBoer said. "That's what keeps us employed…it really is, it's that critical."
In recent games, Oettinger allowed the Stars to start slow, "get their legs", and gradually play stronger throughout each period. On Monday, Dallas took care of business with stifling defense and key goals from the start, but just winning the game against Vegas wasn't enough. Dallas players said they wanted to give Oettinger the shutout he deserved against the Rangers.
"I'm thinking it, and I'm sure everybody else is thinking it," said forward Ty Dellandrea of giving their goalie a nice gift. "We're not saying it, you don't want to say the shutout word leading into those minutes, but Jake was steady. It just felt like he wasn't going to let anything in."
It's been that way for much of the season.
Last season Oettinger started in the minors, earned the starting job midway through the year, and then was spectacular in a seven-game series against Calgary that ended in an overtime loss. It convinced management the 26th pick in the 2017 draft was the answer in net.
"The fact that Jake is here, he's home developed and drafted, you've got the most important position in hockey essentially locked up hopefully for the next decade-plus," DeBoer said. "He's a critical part of our team."
And a huge part of the brotherhood of the room.
"He's been lights out, unbelievable," forward Luke Glendening said. "I'm glad he was able to get a shutout tonight. Obviously in New York, he was less than a second away. Glad we were able to help out with that tonight."
Hintz' absence
Roope Hintz missed his fourth consecutive game with an upper-body injury. The top line center is skating in Texas and could join the team on the trip. However, after games at San Jose (Wednesday) and Los Angeles (Thursday), Dallas will play nine of 10 games at home. It might be an easier return for Hintz to join the lineup during the upcoming homestand.
Recent Achievements
Tyler Seguin scored for the third time in the past three games as he has taken Hintz's place. Seguin has five points in the past four games.
Jamie Benn surpassed Neal Broten for second place on the franchise's all-time games played list on Monday. Ben is at 993. Mike Modano is the all-time leader at 1,459.
Joe Pavelski was a plus-one on Monday and is tied for the NHL lead in plus-minus at plus-31.
Ryan Suter scored his first goal of the season on Monday.
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.
