The guess is Khudobin could be available for Tuesday's game against the Blackhawks, but Oettinger has shown in his rookie season that he can be relied upon in pretty much any situation.
"Listen, when you are a goalie you are going to be exposed to every situation known. You are going to fall behind early, you are going to get an early lead, you are going to have tight games where there isn't much going on with either teams and you are going to have a little bit of everything," Bowness said.
"It's all part of his growth -- to be exposed to these types of games with highly skilled players over there like Kane and DeBrincat. They're great players. They're strong and very good offensive players that hang onto the puck and freeze you a little bit and make passes when you think they are shooting. So, it's all part of his growth. He's got to learn the league and learn the players, but, again, he was great today."
If players like Robertson, Dellandrea and Oettinger continue to improve, Dallas could be in a good place when injured veterans such as Ben Bishop (knee) and Tyler Seguin (hip) are ready to return in late March or early April. Either way, the progress is important for the long-term success of the organization.
"We are putting them all in tough positions, so give them credit," Bowness said. "They're getting better and they're working hard. They're good teammates. They come to the rink every day to try to get better and they are learning how to be a pro. There's a lot to this and there is a lot of room to grow for all our young players, but they are good people and they are good teammates and they will continue to grow."
"We're asking an awful lot from them right now, but that's where we are. We want them to play and we want them to continue to grow. They're a big part of the future of this team. They're the present and the future."
