$96,000,000 Stars forward, Jamie Benn make their thoughts crystal clear on Jake Oettinger's early pull in gutting Game 5 loss

Dallas Stars forward Mikko Rantanen and captain Jamie Benn said goaltender Jake Oettinger was not at fault for being pulled early during Game 5 of the Western Conference Final against the Edmonton Oilers on Thursday.

Oettinger had a tough night between the pipes in the opening period, allowing two goals within eight minutes, prompting a surprise decision from coach Peter DeBoer to replace him with Casey DeSmith.

Expand Tweet

After the game, Rantanen, who signed an eight-year, $96 million extension, emphasized that the team's lack of defensive support contributed to the early goals.

"I don't know. Coaches make decisions. We were not ready. We were not helping Jake at all on the first two goals, so that's on us, not on Jake."

Jamie Benn explained that after the two quick goals, DeBoer called a timeout to urge the team to play better, as it had left Oettinger unsupported.

"Pretty much wake up. Start playing. Kind of left Jakey out to dry there early on. That’s pretty much the message. It’s not my call," Benn said (6:34 onwards).

The Dallas Stars were eliminated by the Edmonton Oilers in the Western Conference Final for the second straight year, marking their third consecutive year falling in the conference finals.

Rantanen had an outstanding debut playoff campaign with Dallas. The 28-year-old recorded 22 points through nine goals and 13 assists in 18 games.

Jamie Benn reflects on team's challenging season after WCF loss

The Dallas Stars captain expressed disappointment over falling short once again in the conference finals despite being so close to advancing.

"We went through a lot of adversity all year,” Benn said via NHL. “We always rose up to the challenge. Didn’t matter who was out. Guys were stepping up. We just didn’t get it done here. It [stinks]. I mean, three years in a row now [losing in the conference final]. You get that close, and you come up short. It doesn’t matter who you’re playing. Obviously, not a good feeling.”

Jamie Benn amassed three points through one goal and two assists in 18 games. This could be Benn's final game with the team, as he is in the final year of his contract and set to become an unrestricted free agent this summer.

About the author

Abhishek is an NHL writer at Sportskeeda with over 2 years of sports reporting experience and a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Delhi. He became a fan of ice hockey after watching NHL fight videos on YouTube, which led to him professionally writing about the sport and his continued interest in all things hockey.

A fan of the Boston Bruins, Abhishek considers their incredible comeback win against the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 2013 playoffs as the most iconic moment in the NHL. His admiration for the six-time Stanley Cup winners also comes from the team’s storied history, distinctive black and gold uniform and their success in the sport. His all-time favorite NHL players are Sidney Crosby and Connor McDavid, for their ability to perform at the highest level consistently.

Abhishek ensures his reporting is fair and balanced by being well-researched in his details, which he expects to be relevant, up-to-date and in line with ethical standards. His specialties are doing detailed match analysis and covering fan reactions.

Abhishek enjoys music, traveling and going on walks with his three German Shepherds in his free time, along with learning about horticulture.

Know More

Wayne Gretzky’s wife Janet responds to critics questioning his loyalty to Canada, Bobby Orr's support following 4 Nations drama

Edited by Abhishek Dilta