The Dallas Stars were one of the hardest teams in the NHL to score on last season. They allowed 226 goals in 82 games, and NHL.com ranked them second in goals against per game.
Their starting goalie had one of his weaker statistical seasons anyway.
Jake Oettinger went 35-12-6 with a 2.59 goals-against average, four shutouts and an .899 save percentage. Backup Casey DeSmith, in 30 games, posted a 2.43 average and .907. For a team with Cup ambitions, having the backup post the better numbers is worth a closer look.
Why it didn't matter, until it did
In the regular season, Dallas' structure covered for a lot. Esa Lindell finished plus-30, best on the team, and Miro Heiskanen and Thomas Harley moved the puck out of danger.
The playoffs were different. Minnesota scored six in Game 1 and five in the clincher. The Stars' offense, which went more than 209 minutes without an even-strength goal, took most of the blame, and rightly. But a series decided by margins can also be tipped by one or two saves that are not made.
The workload question
NHL.com notes that Oettinger has made at least 53 starts in each of the past four seasons, and he played 54 games last year. That durability is valuable. It is also a lot of hockey for a goalie who carried Dallas through three straight Western Conference finals.
Add an 84-game schedule this season, and there is a reasonable argument for leaning more on DeSmith, 35, through the fall. A rested Oettinger in April is worth more than a few extra regular-season wins in November.
