Jake Oettinger Returning to Dallas Stars Following Callup

(Credit: Andy Nietupski / Texas Stars)

The Dallas Stars have recalled goaltender Jake Oettinger from the Texas Stars. Braden Holtby missed the morning skate for Dallas today with a lower-body injury, which led to the Oettinger callup. Dallas plays Philadelphia tonight and Oettinger will back up Anton Khudobin.

In 10 games this season with Texas, Oettinger has a 0.913 SV% and a 2.62 GAA. Oettinger was especially strong in net last night against Colorado saving 30 of 31 shots he faced despite the shootout loss. Before last night’s game against Colorado, Oettinger was having a rough stretch in which he posted less than a 0.900 SV% in four straight games. Considering Oettinger’s proven talent and his strong outing between the posts last night, there is no reason to think the struggles will linger.

Last season, Oettinger played in 29 games for Dallas and posted a 0.911 SV%. Oettinger was a key piece for Dallas last year and certainly looks to be a big part of the future for the organization. At the moment, the goalie room is a bit crowded with Holtby, Khudobin, soon-to-return Ben Bishop, and Oettinger. However, as Holtby is dealing with a nagging lower-body injury, Oettinger will get a chance to be on the bench with Dallas tonight and possibly for a few more games this week.

With Oettinger in Dallas tonight, Colton Point and Adam Scheel are the two goalies left on the active roster for Texas. For tonight’s game against Colorado, it will either be Scheel’s first start for Texas this season or Point’s second. Texas Stars head coach Neil Graham may have some tough decisions to make regarding who gets time in net for the team during Oettinger’s time with Dallas.

Here is the official press release:

Dallas Stars General Manager Jim Nill announced today the team has recalled goaltender Jake Oettinger from the Texas Stars, Dallas' top development affiliate in the American Hockey League (AHL).

Oettinger, 22, has appeared in 10 AHL games with Texas so far in 2021-22. The goaltender owns a 4-5-1 record with a .913 save percentage and a 2.62 goals-against average this season. Oettinger has allowed one goal or fewer in four of his 10 appearances on the season and has recorded 30-plus saves in five appearances.

Oettinger has earned an 11-8-7 record with a 2.36 GAA and a .911 SV% in 29 career regular-season NHL appearances, all with Dallas. He made his regular-season NHL debut in 2020-21, finishing third among rookie goaltenders in GAA (2.36) and fourth in SV% (.911) last season.

The 6-foot-5, 220-pound native of Lakeville, Minn. was originally selected by Dallas in the first round (26th overall) of the 2017 NHL Draft.