When the Dallas Stars signed Casey DeSmith to back up Jake Oettinger, I don’t think they or anyone could have imagined the success that would follow.

When DeSmith was inconsistent in the early season, doubt crept further into the minds of fans, who were still reeling after losing fan-favorite Scott Wedgewood in the summer. And when DeSmith allowed six goals on 32 shots in an ugly loss to the Chicago Blackhawks in November, it felt like Oettinger would need to start 65 games if this team would succeed.

Overreactions to a small sample size? Sure. But this club has had excellent goaltending for quite a while now. Fans, media, and the organization had high expectations of that continuing with this duo.

Fast forward to today… DeSmith holds a career-best .922 save percentage and 2.30 goals-against average. Since Dec. 1, he sits second in the NHL with a .933 save percentage. In that time, the 33-year-old has gone 12-2-1 and has only four starts with a save percentage below .900 (most of which were very close).

In his last nine games, DeSmith has gone 8-0-1 with a .943 save percentage and a 1.87 GAA.

That is elite. And the Stars needed it.

Oettinger went through a bit of a battle after the new year. After coming out red hot in 2025, Oettinger’s number started to dip.

First, he went cold with four consecutive bad starts. Then he was inconsistent, playing very well in one game before looking rattled in the next. That was followed by three more tough games. The talk from fans and even Stars coach Pete DeBoer became all about how DeSmith was earning more starts while Oettinger was “battling”.

Clearly, Oettinger’s competitive nature and will to be one of the best goalies in the world kicked in after that. In his last four starts, Oettinger has very much looked like the top-10 goalie he is capable of being, going 4-0-0 (he is on a personal six-game point streak) with a .956 sv% and a 1.50 GAA.

Dallas lost its team game a bit lately, allowing a league-worst 32.2 shots per game since Feb. 1 and not creating nearly as much in the offensive end. But the goalies stepped up, combining to stop 234 pucks over the past six games (39 saves per game).

Why is this SO important right now? Well, here is essentially how the Stars goaltending season has gone:

• October – December: Oettinger is mostly elite, especially at home, while DeSmith adjusts to his new team and the Stars work through some slow starts.
• January – March: The Stars find their game, DeSmith is among the best backup goalies in the league and pushes for more starts, while Oettinger struggles with consistency.
• March – April: Both goalies find their game and go completely lights out while Dallas, as a whole, works through some bumps and struggles to play consistent hockey on both ends of the ice.

Essentially, one way or another, the Stars goaltending has provided the backbone needed at every turn. It is a huge reason they clinched a playoff spot and, along with their above-average goal-scoring, played a huge role in them once again chasing down the Central Division title.

Let’s hear it for the goalies.

Dallas is unlikely to use two goalies on the ice during the Stanley Cup Playoffs. They will need Oettinger to be at his best, while DeSmith focuses more on support and making the starter and team better in practice and morning skates. He did his job already. He found a way to be there when the Stars needed him and allowed Oettinger to play fewer games and be fresher come playoff time. Really, he went above and beyond the call of duty.

Now, Oettinger is hitting his stride at the perfect time. In a league where special teams and goaltending are usually the difference in the postseason, the importance of this cannot be underestimated.

Look at last spring. If Oettinger could have been a little bit better and/or the Stars could have found a power-play goal or two, they likely advance to take on the Florida Panthers in the Stanley Cup Final. Really, they were the more complete team. But the two biggest factors mentioned above were outplayed when it mattered most.

Players go cold in the playoffs… seems like in Dallas, especially. When that happens or the scoring dries up or the power play is on a 0-15 streak (hopefully it isn’t), goaltending can get you by. The beginning of the season and the last couple of weeks are picture-perfect examples of that.

A lot of the playoffs will be based on whether or not Dallas can find its complete team game. That still remains true. But you know what can cover up for some iffy play on the ice? Goaltending.

If Oettinger can stay in his current form, he should be the band-aid there to cover up for the Stars issues. If they are still allowing too many chances, Oettinger to the rescue. If they are turning pucks over in their own end, Phenomenotter is there. And if they are struggling to score or get pucks on net at the other end, Oettinger keeping the opponent under three goals is likely going to make all the difference.

Most importantly, Oettinger’s play could be what gets the Stars over the hump of running out of gas in the Western Conference Final. It may not be every game or every series, but when the tough stretches come for the team, goaltending needs to be there.

Now… if you want to get real excited… imagine the Dallas Stars truly rediscovering their top-tier brand of hockey in addition to having a top-form Oettinger in the pipes… I don’t know about you, but to me, that’s the team to beat.