Dallas Stars goaltender Jake Oettinger was pulled just over seven minutes into Game of the Western Conference Final after conceding two goals on the first two shots from the Edmonton Oilers. Head coach Pete DeBoer made the controversial decision to replace Oettinger with backup Casey DeSmith, aiming to spark the team in a win-or-go-home situation.
DeBoer later explained that the move was influenced by Oettinger’s recent struggles against Edmonton—he had lost six of his last seven starts versus the Oilers—and concerns over his heavy playoff workload and a recent upper-respiratory illness Despite the switch, the Stars were unable to recover, ultimately losing 6-3 and ending their playoff run.
Oettinger admitted feeling “embarrassed” by the early hook but emphasized he would use the experience to grow as a player. Both Oettinger and DeBoer dismissed any suggestion of a rift, with Oettinger reaffirming his commitment to improving and DeBoer expressing continued confidence in his starting goaltender.
