Stars Coach DeBoer Blames Goalie Oettinger After Western Conference Elimination

Dallas Stars head coach Pete DeBoer faced significant criticism after pulling starting goaltender Jake Oettinger just over seven minutes into the elimination Game 5 of the Western Conference Final against the Edmonton Oilers, following Oettinger allowing two goals on two shots. DeBoer justified the decision as an attempt to spark the team and pointed to Oettinger's playoff history against Edmonton, noting he had lost six of seven games to the Oilers, but many fans and players, including forward Jason Robertson, condemned the coach for publicly blaming Oettinger and not supporting him. The Stars were decisively outplayed following their Game 1 win, losing the series after being outscored 19-5 over the next four games. DeBoer's timeout and goalie change were seen as desperate measures amid defensive breakdowns and a poor team start, but the move failed to turn the momentum. Despite DeBoer's stance, many view the blame as shared among the team's performance issues, with criticism focusing on the handling of Oettinger, who had been a key player throughout the playoffs. The controversy highlights tensions within the Stars organization and raises questions about leadership and player-coach dynamics moving forward.