Three Thoughts - So Far, Oettinger Is Better
The Dallas Stars were outplayed last night in many ways and they still won Game 4.
Good signs are emerging all around us. There are many growing reasons to believe that the Dallas Stars are capable of great heights this spring, and they all seem to be happening at the same time.
Miro Heiskanen has returned. Jason Robertson has returned. The penalty kill is still killing it. Jake Oettinger has been the best goalie in nearly every playoff game of this series against a potential league MVP.
But, most importantly, Dallas probably won a very critical game last night in Dallas in which they were outplayed for much of it. That seems, if we look back at Games 2, 3, and 7 of the Colorado series and now this game, to be a bit of a habit for the Stars.
When they play really well, they win. But also, when you outplay them, they can still win. This guarantees nothing at this juncture, but it certainly ramps up the likelihood that if this can continue moving forward, they can be champions as early as this year.
We said long ago that if Dallas could somehow survive these massive injuries to their very important players and keep breathing long enough for them to return, they might instantly become a real problem for the rest of the league.
Well, here they are. With a huge win in a very pivotal game last night, the Stars are up 3-1 in the series after a 3-1 win over the Jets in front of a wild crowd. Miro Heiskanen played a smaller role, but he is back and beginning to assert himself in a way that makes you feel he can be at full speed by potentially the final two rounds.
The Jets now squarely have their backs against the wall. I will suggest that will mean little if you allow them life on Thursday, but for now, the Jets are down to their final strike.
It was a huge performance and a great statement of intent at just the right time. The Stars look like they are the team that was promised and are now one win from getting to their third consecutive Conference Finals opportunity.
It is a glorious time for playoff hockey in our city.
And these are My Game 4 Three Thoughts:
This might have been Jake Oettinger’s best game of the playoffs this year and we are getting close to saying this might be 11 games that constitute one of his best playoff runs we have seen. At some point, hopefully he will convince the fanbase that he rises to the post-season occasion at a very high level of quality.
There is a calm to his game that is difficult to mistake. He is in a great state of mind and clearly doesn’t get rattled. His positioning is generally quite sound and he is anticipating and feeling moves before they are happening.