After being exposed on both Panther goals in Game 1, Cody Ceci will head to the press box as a healthy scratch as Vincent Desharnais returns to the OIlers' lineup. The 30-year-old Ceci had been producing offensively in the playoffs with his two goals and four points in 17 games but has struggled mightily defensively as shown by his -7 plus/minus.
Oettinger allowed four goals on 28 shots in the Stars' loss in Edmonton in Game 4. Oettinger gave up seven goals in two games in Edmonton and now has a .912 SV% in the series and a .917 SV% across 17 postseason games. Oettinger and the Stars come into Game 5 as -117 home favourites.
Oettinger allowed three goals on 38 shots (.921 SV%) in crushing Game 1 overtime defeat but will expectedly take the crease again for Game 2 on Saturday. The 25-year-old towering netminder has been a brick wall all playoffs, with his 8-6-0 record, 2.10 GAA and .917 SV% in 14 games played. He will host the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday for Game 2, who are in the midst of a three-game win streak and will be looking to take a commanding 2-0 series lead.
Hintz has missed the last three games due to an upper-body injury but was a full participant in Saturday's optional morning skate and will be a game-time decision for Game 2. The 27-year-old will be a massive return to Dallas' top six if he can play on Saturday, adding two goals and six points in 11 games played in the playoffs before his injury.
Hintz missed the final two games of the Stars' series vs. the Avalanche and will miss Game 1 of the Western Conference Final. Head coach Pete DeBoer said that Hintz is "really close to returning," so there's a chance he'll be available for Game 2 on Saturday.
Oettinger allowed one goal on 30 shots in the Stars' 2-1 overtime win over the Avalanche in Game 6. Oettinger backed up the .925 SV% he posted vs. Vegas with a .911 SV% vs. Colorado, giving him an 8-5 record and .918 SV% in 13 playoff games so far. He was 1-0-1 with a 2.00 GAA, .932 SV% and one shutout vs. the Oilers in the regular season.
Hintz missed the Stars' previous two playoff games due to an undisclosed injury but practiced on Monday and is considered day-to-day as the teams heads into the Western Conference final this week. The 27-year-old hopes to be back for Game 1 after putting up two goals, six points, 13 SOG and six PIMs in 11 games played before his injury.
Oettinger was fantastic in Game 4 yet again stopping 24 of 25 shots (.960 SV%) for his third-straight win over Colorado as Dallas took a commanding 3-1 series lead and will start Game 5 as expected on Wednesday. The 25-year-old has been a brickwall the entire playoffs, with his 7-4-0 record, 2.02 GAA and .923 SV%. He'll host the Colorado Avalanche on Wednesday, who are on the brink of elimination and have only won six games in their last three playoff series'.
