Stars coach Pete DeBoer faces locker room backlash after Game 5 meltdown and playoff exit
James Carey Lauder-Imagn Images
Let's just say the offseason drama in Dallas has started early and the heat isn't coming from the Texas sun. It's coming from inside the locker room. According to multiple reports, Stars head coach Pete DeBoer is in hot water after several players voiced their frustration with how he handled the Western Conference Final series against the Oilers.
And no, this isn't just about Xs and Os. From Game 5 chaos to some eyebrow-raising postgame comments, DeBoer might've lost more than just the series, he may have lost the room.
Players weren't thrilled with DeBoer's playoff coaching decisions and they made that very clear
Insiders say there was noticeable tension behind closed doors after the Stars were eliminated by the Oilers in Game 6. Several players reportedly used their exit interviews to air grievances about how DeBoer handled key moments in the series. That includes lineup decisions, benchings, and his overall vibe after the loss.
Translation? The guys weren't feeling it and they let the front office know.
Game 5 was supposed to be the Stars' moment to bounce back. Instead, after giving up two early goals (one on the power play, the other a breakaway), DeBoer benched Oettinger in favor of backup Casey DeSmith, who hadn't played in over a month. The Oilers scored again just a minute later, and the Stars never recovered, eventually losing 6-3 and getting bounced from the playoffs.
'I didn't take that lightly and I didn't blame it all on Jake,'
DeBoer said after the game. But the coach pointed to Oettinger's track record against Edmonton, six losses in his last seven tries as justification. Still, pulling your starting goalie that early in an elimination game was a shocker, and the gamble clearly didn't pay off.
Let's not forget, this is Pete DeBoer's third straight Western Conference Final appearance with Dallas and his third straight failure to break through. In fact, he's now lost six straight conference final games as a head coach. That's not just bad luck. That's a trend.
The Stars have the roster. They've got the goalie. But now, the question is whether DeBoer is the one to finally bring them to a Stanley Cup Final or if this painful exit signals the end of the road for him in Dallas.
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