Oettinger Stands Firm as Stars Hold Off Blue Jackets 3-1
Harley and Rantanen beat Greaves, Robertson and Johnston ring the iron, and Columbus leaves Dallas with plenty of looks but one goal.
Columbus carried more of this game and had the better chances, but Jake Oettinger would not give them more than one. He stopped 25 of 26 shots, including 7 of 8 from the most dangerous areas, and Dallas won 3-1 at home.
The Blue Jackets outshot Dallas 26-16 and out-attempted them 51 to 34 in shot attempts, which counts everything aimed at the net. Their chances were good enough to expect about two more goals than Oettinger allowed: he finished at +2.21 goals saved above expected, meaning he took away roughly two goals an average night lets in.
At the other end, Dallas made its fewer shots count. Thomas Harley and Mikko Rantanen scored, and the Stars cashed in on the power play once. It could have been wider: Jason Robertson and Wyatt Johnston each rang a shot off the iron, one off a post and one off the crossbar, and both were real looks.
For Columbus, Kent Johnson had the best chances of anyone on the ice despite just one shot, and Zach Werenski played 27 minutes and set up Damon Severson's goal. Jet Greaves made 14 saves on 16 shots, but the bounces, and the goalie, belonged to Dallas.
