Sport Stars Rookie Netminder Oettinger Backstops Stars To Win Over Hurricanes

For the first time since the Dallas Stars opened the season 4-0, they won back-to-back games. Of course, they’ve managed to pick up points along the way in that stretch, but stringing together wins has been elusive for the guys in Victory Green.

© James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports

Being able to build a little momentum from a win against the Nashville Predators would help in climbing back into the playoff race for the Stars. But that’s a tall order when facing off against one of the top teams in the Central Division in the Carolina Hurricanes.

Thanks to rookie netminder Jake Oettinger and a power play that found a good time to deliver a clutch goal, the Stars were able to string together two consecutive wins.

Blackhawks' Brandon Hagel placed in COVID protocol

It is not clear how long Hagel will be out, but notably, he did play in Thursday’s game against the Carolina Hurricanes. The Blackhawks are back in action Saturday afternoon.Subscribe to Yardbarker's Morning Bark, the most comprehensive newsletter in sports. Customize your email to get the latest news on your favorite sports, teams and schools. Emailed daily. Always free! Sign up now ▸More must-reads:Blackhawks' Stan Bowman named GM of 2022 U.S.

Two days later, the Stars ’ goalkeeper won ’t get a chance to follow it up. On Saturday, Stars coach Rick Bowness announced that Khudobin will miss his scheduled start against the Carolina Hurricanes because he has entered COVID-19 protocols. Bowness said the hope is that Khudobin’s test is a false positive. Rookie Jake Oettinger will start in Khudobin’s place. He is 5-3 on the season and has .909 save percentage.

Oettinger makes 41 saves, helps Stars get first win against Hurricanes . Alexander Wennberg recorded a hat trick, helping the Panthers earn a 5-2 victory over the Blue Jackets at home. Oettinger makes 41 saves, helps Stars get first win against Hurricanes . Kero breaks tie in third

Oettinger wasn’t supposed to get this game’s start. Anton Khudobin was slated to start before he was placed in the league’s COVID-19 protocols. Head coach Rick Bowness is hopeful it’s a false negative. So, much like the rest of the season has been, the Stars once again employed their “Next Man Up” slogan.

The rookie netminder had a tough night, facing 41 shots against. He let in two goals on that NHL career high mark. The real key to his performance, though, was the sparkling 100% save percentage he had on high-danger scoring chances according to Natural Stat Trick. When needed, Oettinger came up with the clutch save.

On the offensive side, Andrew Cogliano kicked off the scoring thanks to a drive-by on a Mark Pysyk shot. The real key to that goal was the clean faceoff win Blake Comeau had in the offensive zone. Down a goal late in the second period, the Stars got their one and only power play chance. Stars captain Jamie Benn made a fantastic play near the side of the opposition’s net, using great stick work to tie the game up with some of the clutchest power play scoring that the team has had this season. Jason Robertson continued being arguably the most valuable player among the Stars’ forwards when he made a great play to setup Tanner Kero for the game-winning goal.

Healthy Mrazek gives Canes options in net, for trade deadline

With three healthy goalies, will Don Waddell choose to keep them all or deal one?The 29-year-old netminder has been out since Jan. 30 with a broken thumb and returned Thursday during a conditioning stint with AHL Chicago. Mrazek stopped 43 shots in the Checkers’ win and was recalled to the NHL squad on Friday.

Blues 27 Hurricanes 17. Bank the win and move on might be the best approach for the Blues. Snapping a two-match losing run will bring a sense of relief but much work remains for Leon MacDonald, despite doing enough to repel the Hurricanes and stay firmly in contention for the Three weeks ago at Eden Park the Blues comfortably defeated the Highlanders to record their second-straight win to start the season. After losses to the Crusaders and Chiefs and this win , the Blues have not been the same team since. The Blues scored three tries to one but this was not a convincing display from

Ryan Sproul and Kevin Hayes each scored to back a 40-save performance by Henrik Lundqvist in a 2-1 win against the Hurricanes .

The Stars didn’t get out of this unscathed, though.

A forward corps that has been very depleted by injury this season took another hit when Jason Dickinson left the game with a lower-body injury. He joins a veritable who’s-who on the injured front: Tyler Seguin, Roope Hintz, Alexander Radulov, Joel Kiviranta, Ben Bishop, Stephen Johns, Joel Hanley. The depth of the system is being tested big time.

Unfortunately, the schedule keeps coming, as the Stars have less than 24 hours before the faceoff against the Hurricanes again. With so many injuries and the schedule what it is, Bowness said he’d love to be able to tell what the lineup will be before game time, but it’s just not the position the Stars are in right now.

Check out this shot of the game: