*Photo from Sportsnet*
This was no ordinary game, they can't always be high scoring. This was a goaltending exhibition. Jason Robertson scored in the shootout, Jacob Peterson scored the winner, and the Dallas Stars defeated the Chicago Blackhawks with a 1-0 shootout victory on Friday night in Chicago.
This game was an exhibition of goaltending and defense, the game remained in a 0-0 stalemate all the way through regulation and overtime. In the shootout, 3 combined players scored, with Dallas ending up on top. Because the goals were allowed during a shootout, they do not count against a goalie's GAA or save percentage, so this game was a rare double shutout, with both goalies not allowing anything.
With the win, the Stars have now picked up two straight wins, and have won 4 of their last 5 as well, jumping to a 27-19-12 record, holding 5th place in a tight central division. The shootout went 6 rounds in total, with Peterson getting a little slick to get the win, a move he had tried before.
Peterson said postgame that "I tried it in the preseason and it worked, so I was thinking, 'Let's try it again,' and it worked out. Of course, it's cool to score against that guy. I watched him growing up, so that's something I like to do, but it's not something you think about when you're there. You just think about doing your move and hope for the best, and that was it."
The shootout began with both Patrick Kane of the Blackhawks and Robertson scoring in the opening round, leaving things once again tied. After that, 4 Stars skaters and 5 Blackhawks were held scoreless by the goalies, with Peterson's goal in the 6th round as the game winning goal to cap off a good night for the Stars.
Getting the start for the Stars was Jake Oettinger, who wears number 29 in honor of the goalie he played against this night. Oettinger starred, stopping all 34 shots he faced in regulation and overtime, being the first part of the double shutout. With the win, Oettinger's record bumps up to 15-5-0 in 20 starts this season.
Stars head coach Rick Bowness said of Oettinger that "He's making huge saves for us. We played really well defensively, and so did they. That was probably the best defensive game they played in a while. I'm sure Derek got after them after giving up seven last night. And Fleury was great for them. He made some phenomenal saves for them, but Jake made the big saves at the right time."
The man Oettinger idols was Marc-Andre Fleury, who put up an equally impressive start for the Blackhawks, with a slightly worse ending than Oettinger. Fleury stoned all 29 shots he faced in regulation and OT, sealing the double shutout. With the loss, Fleury's record drops to 16-17-4 in 37 starts.
After the game, Fleury said "Ah, it happens. We didn't play bad, though, right? All game we hung in there and didn't do too much. Had to go all the way to settle it down. Still disappointing to come out with a loss when so close to get that win. It would be nice to get one there at home."
Both teams get back in action on Sunday, with the Blackhawks remaining at home to host the Florida Panthers, with Fleury to get the start between the pipes. Oettinger is the likely started for the Stars road matchup with the Arizona Coyotes on Sunday night.
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