– by Adesina O. Koiki
A Lot of Sports Talk editor-in-chief
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DALLAS — Staring down gilt-edged scoring chances from one of the National Hockey League’s all-time great goal scorers, Dallas Stars goalkeeper Jake Oettinger did not flinch as his scorching start to the season — and the Stars imperious play on home ice — continued in the new season.
Oettinger made 27 saves, seven of them on shots by Alexander Ovechkin, in recording his third career regular-season shutout as the Stars defeated the Washington Capitals 2-0 at American Airlines Center on Thursday. Jason Robertson scored the game-winning goal late in the first period during the Stars’ 2-0 win over the Washington Capitals at American Airlines Center on Thursday. Jason Robertson scored the game-winning goal late in the first period for the Stars, who have won all three games at home this season while allowing just two goals combined and outscoring their opponents 11-2 in those three games.
Oettinger, who assumed the role of starting goalkeeper late last season and finished the campaign with a 64-save masterpiece in a Game 7 loss to the Calgary Flames in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, has picked up where he left off in 2022, as he now leads the league in goals against average (1.17) and save percentage (.960) after his first six games, a stretch in which he has recorded a 5-1-0 record.
“I think I can be one of the best goalies in this league, and it’s just now proving it every night,” Oettinger said after the game. “The team hasn’t asked me to save the world or anything back there. Just do your job and make a few big saves every night.”
Some of those big saves on Thursday came at the expense of Ovechkin, including on a partial breakaway midway through the second period to keep the Stars ahead at 1-0.
*Editor’s note: Above the byline is the photo gallery from Saturday evening’s game, with all photos taken by Dallas-area photographer Ross James. After clicking on the first photo to enlarge the picture, make sure to press the left and right arrow buttons to scroll through the rest of the pictures. There are 22 pictures in total.
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