Part 2/7:
With the Dallas Stars already behind 3-1 in the series, the stakes were high. DeBoer faced the challenge of revitalizing his team, which had struggled in their last encounters with the Oilers. Oettinger, notably the sixth highest-paid goalie in the NHL, had an off night, allowing two goals on just two shots. The quick decision to swap him out seemed an urgent reaction to an immediate crisis.
DeBoer defended his choice on the grounds of needing to "spark" his team, a notion often evoked in sports when a team is in distress. Yet, the rationale behind such a move raises numerous questions about leadership and actual effectiveness.