Oilers Reporter Attempts to Take Credit Away From Leafs After Clutch Win in Dallas

The Dallas Stars represent one of the best teams in both the Western Conference and the NHL as a whole. Before last night's defeat against the Toronto Maple Leafs, they entered the contest with a 19-11-0 record and boasted one of the deepest lineups from top to bottom, including a world-class goaltender in Jake Oettinger.

Despite this one being labelled as a battle between two of the NHL's solid young goalies, the Maple Leafs chased Oettinger after he allowed 4 goals on just 8 shots. The Stars netminder faced just 12 shots in total through 2 periods of play.

The new-look third line in Toronto, featuring Max Domi, Nicholas Robertson, and Bobby McMann, spurred the offense with one goal apiece through 40 minutes of play.

It was certainly one of Oettinger's worst games of the season as he had previously allowed 4 goals on 15 shots against the Winnipeg Jets but all the way back on the 9th of November - a span of 15 games separated that performance with his start from last night.

He entered last night's game with a 16-7-0 record, a .913 SV%, and a 2.26 GAA - all fantastic numbers. So, one would think the Maple Leafs should be applauded for chasing one of the best netminders in the league. But, according to one reporter, they got "lucky".

Sportsnet's Mark Spector, a beat reporter for the Edmonton Oilers, took to X last night and tweeted that the Leafs were fortunate to escape Dallas with a win, as they got to face the "bad Oettinger".

On the season, Oettinger has allowed 4 or more goals just 4 times, and conversely, has allowed 2 goals or less on 14 occasions, including 1 shutout. Perhaps it was purely farming for engagement online, but the "bad Oettinger" very rarely makes an appearance and it might've just been a good offensive game from the Maple Leafs, who may have simply made the most of their limited scoring opportunities instead. However, considering the animosity that now exists between the Leafs and the Oilers on social media, it's not overly surprising either.

Oettinger won't have to wait too long to avenge the loss to Toronto, as the Stars will visit Scotiabank Arena on the 14th of January. Although it's 3 weeks away, Oettinger plays most games for the Stars and there's a three-day break in between Stars games at that point, so expect the Lakeville, Minnesota native to be in goal for that game.

The Maple Leafs' offense has been humming of late and will need to do more of the same moving forward to perhaps lose the "lucky" moniker being placed on them by rival reporters.