Lundkvist Stays in the Spotlight, Stars Outlast Wings in Overtime

Nils Lundkvist has found the spotlight and the Dallas Stars have found their overtime touch, as they come from behind to defeat the Detroit Red Wings 3-2 and win their second straight trip past regulation. 

Since serving as a healthy scratch for three games, Lundkvist has made his mark. 

The 22-year-old defenseman tied the game late against Ottawa on Thursday and was on the business end of a beautiful overtime winner against Detroit on Saturday. 

Lundkvist now has two goals and one assist in his last three games. 

Read More: Recent Experience Helps Nils Lundkvist Remain Confident Despite Scratches

“The guys in here know how good he is and how good he can be,” Oettinger said. “He reminds me a lot of Klinger [John Klingberg]. I think he has a great future and he is just going to get more and more confident. I am really happy for him. Had an opportunity and stepped up huge.” 

The Wings were ready to play when the puck dropped in this afternoon game, and the Stars were not. 

Detroit racked up 12 shots while Dallas racked up giveaways and time in their own end of the rink. But as he has done so often in his career, Jake Oettinger came up huge. 

Oettinger’s 11 saves allowed the Stars to enter the second period tied at one. Nearly all of the Detroit chances were Grade-A, coming mostly off turnovers that led to odd-man rushes. 

“He was real good in the first,” Stars Head Coach Pete DeBoer said. “I didn’t like our puck management in the first period. We really fed their speed in transition, which is their game. He made some big saves. And then once we started to manage the puck better, we really tightened things up around him.” 

“It’s a good opportunity to make your mark on a game,” Oettinger said. “It’s my job to make a couple big saves every night. It doesn’t always go that way and I am happy I was able to do that tonight. The guys shut it down after that.” 

The Stars wrapped up their home stand with a 3-1-1 record and seven of a possible 10 points. They will have the day off tomorrow and travel to Pittsburgh to begin a five-game road trip around the Eastern Conference. 

Sam’s Three Stars 

• First Star: Nils Lundkvist, DAL (OT winner)
• Second Star: Mason Marchment, DAL (2 assists)
• Third Star: Jake Oettinger, DAL (24 saves on 26 shots, .923%)

He Said It 

“The way we play everybody here, we don’t hide anybody,” DeBoer said. “We’re not looking at age or birth certificates. If you are in the lineup, we’re going to trust that we can put you out there. That’s been our philosophy all year and everybody has responded.”