Oettinger stopped 28 of 29 shots (.966 SV%) in a hard-fought Game 6 loss and will start as expected as Dallas hosts Vegas for Game 7 on Sunday. The 25-year-old has started every game of the playoffs thus far for Dallas and holds a 3-3-0 record, 2.10 GAA and .921 SV% through six games. He'll look to close out the series on Sunday as he hosts the Vegas Golden Knights, who finished the regular season 13th in goals per game (3.21).
Faksa has not appeared since Game 2 due to an undisclosed injury but will draw back into the lineup on Sunday for Game 7 vs. Vegas. The 30-year-old did not pick a point through his first two games played but did have two SOG and -1 plus/minus while averaging 9:00 TOI/GP.
Faksa has been sidelined since Game 2 but "will be an option" for Game 6. It's unclear who Faksa will replace if he plays, but it will likely be Craig Smith or Ty Dellandrea.
With Texas (AHL) reaching the second round of the AHL playoffs, Mavrik Bourque has been loaned back to the Stars to continue their playoff push. The 22-year-old will make a much welcomed return after he led Texas in scoring during the regular season with 26 goals and 77 points in 71 games played.
Faksa has been out since Game 2 due to an undisclosed injury and will remain out for Game 5 on Wednesday vs. Vegas as he did not participate in warm-cups. The 30-year-old centre had seven goals and 19 points in 74 regular season games but has yet to pick up a point while averaging 9:00 TOI/GP his first two games played of the playoffs.
Oettinger picked up his second straight 32-save victory (.941 SV%) in Game 4 as he evened out the Stars' opening series last time out and will start Game 5 on Wednesday as expected. The 25-year-old had a down season as far as counting stats but has pulled it together in the playoffs and has a decent 2-2-0 record, 2.38 GAA and .907 SV% in four games played. He'll look to pick up the series first home victory and take a lead over Vegas as they host the Golden Knights for Game 5 on Wednesday.
Bichsel spent half the season with Rogle BK (SHL) after leaving Texas (AHL) earlier in the season but has returned and been reassigned to the Stars on Wednesday. The 19-year-old defensemen is Dallas' 2022 first round pick (18th overall).
Faksa appears to have suffered an undisclosed injury in Game 2 of the series and has now missed the last two games as a result. Largely relied on for his defensive prowess, Faksa still managed to tally seven goals and 12 assists across 74 games in the 2023-24 regular season.
The Stars will unsurprisingly be sticking with their number-one netminder after Oettinger guided the team to their first victory of the series in Game 3. Oettinger had a terrific game, stopping 32 of the 34 shots he faced before Wyatt Johnston won the game for Dallas in overtime. Oettinger has rebounded nicely from a disappointing effort in Game 1, allowing just four goals on 59 shots (.932 SV%) across the last two games. He and the Stars enter action on Monday as slight favourites at -125 despite being on the road.
With both Mason Marchment and Radek Faksa day-to-day, Mavrik Bourque has been recalled and will be used for Game 3 on Saturday if need be. The 22-year-old centre is coming off a sensational season with Texas (AHL) where he had 26 goals, 77 points and 32 PIMs in 71 games played.
Lyubushkin was away from the Maple Leafs on Friday due to the birth of his child but is expected to be ready to play on Saturday for Game 4 vs. Boston. The 30-year-old shutdown defenseman has played well since being acquired at the trade deadline and has one assist, one SOG, two PIMs, and a +2 plus/minus in the first three games of the playoffs.
Thatcher Demko will remain out of the lineup for at least one more game and as a result, the Canucks will turn to DeSmith between the pipes again in game three. DeSmith struggled in game two, his series debut, allowing three goals on 15 shots (.800 SV%), in a 4-1 loss to the Nashville Predators, evening the series at 1-1. The Canucks enter action as +101 road underdogs on Friday.
The Stars will turn to Oettinger in game two as they look to rebound from a series-opening loss to the Vegas Golden Knights. Oettinger had a forgettable opening game performance, allowing four goals on 15 shots (.733 SV%), all in the first 22 minutes of the contest in a 4-3 loss. The Stars enter action on Wednesday as -161 home favourites.
