** Update: It was confirmed by the coach that Casey DeSmith will start against the Edmonton Oilers. Radek Faksa is also a decision during the match.
The Edmonton Oilers are coming off another bad third period, one in which they allowed the St. Louis Blues to score in the final 90 seconds and snap a seven-game losing streak. Without much time to figure out what went wrong, the team traveled to Dallas where they took on the Stars on Tuesday night. With the news that Jake Oettinger might not be in goal, it was a bit of good news for an Oilers team that has struggled to string together consistent 60-minute efforts.
Tuesday morning brought a bit of a scare to Edmonton Oilers fans.
Sam Nestler was practicing for the Stars on Tuesday morning, and shockingly, the goaltender was on the ice. Just hours after he and his wife welcomed a new baby, Oettinger was skating with the team. This news is a bit surprising, as head coach Glen Gulutzan had already publicly shared that Oettinger would likely not be in net.
Not only was Oettinger at practice, he was also in the starting net, indicating he would in fact be playing against the Oilers. He stayed on the ice late after practice, so his start is not a guarantee.
Casey DeSmith understands the kink. While Oettinger missed almost no action, he probably won’t work on a full night’s rest, and getting one back will have to wait for the Oilers’ Stuart Skinner. Skinner got the best of Oettinger in the playoffs as Edmonton defeated Dallas. No one should have been shocked if Oettinger looked to get one back on his rival goalkeeper.
The Oilers enter Tuesday’s game with a 6-5-3 record, while the Stars (6-3-3) are 4-3-3 in their last 10 games and have won two straight overtime games. Needless to say, after the Oilers put the game away on Monday night, they need a more solid performance and get a lead and keep it in regulation.
Next: Bouchard’s costly attempt to force Oilers’ hand after loss to Blues
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