The Dallas Stars travel to Capital One Arena on Thursday night, aiming to extend their undefeated start to the season against the Washington Capitals. Dallas (4-0-0) seeks its first 5-0-0 start in 18 years, while Washington (1-1-0) hopes to build on an impressive win over the Vegas Golden Knights earlier this week.
Dallas and Washington last met on January 27, 2024, with the Stars edging out a 5-4 win. The Capitals will try to reverse recent trends, having struggled against Dallas in their last five matchups.
Dallas Stars Seek to Stay Perfect
The Stars enter Thursday’s matchup after a hard-fought 3-2 shootout victory over San Jose. Though Dallas has had a strong start, they acknowledge the need for improvement, particularly on the power play, where they’ve converted just one of 13 opportunities this season.
Goaltender Jake Oettinger has been rock-solid, posting a 1.63 goals-against average (GAA) through three games. Oettinger has dominated Washington in the past, boasting a 1.73 GAA and .950 save percentage across four career starts against the Capitals. However, backup Casey DeSmith could get the start after earning a shutout in a 2-0 win over Seattle on Sunday.
Offensively, forward Mason Marchment has been a consistent performer for Dallas, registering two goals and three assists this season. The Stars will also look to Matt Duchene, who has contributed points in three of the team’s four games, to help maintain their early momentum.
Dallas is listed as a -145 favorite with a total set at 6.0 goals for the game.
Capitals Aim for Another Statement Win
The Capitals enter this contest after handing Vegas its first loss of the season with a 4-2 victory on Tuesday. Alex Ovechkin recorded two assists to reach 700 career assists, while Tom Wilson scored his second goal of the season to lead Washington’s attack. Goaltender Logan Thompson, playing against his former team, made 24 saves in his Capitals debut.
Washington hopes to break a five-game losing streak against Dallas, having gone 0-3-2 in their last five meetings. Additionally, they have not defeated the Stars at home since 2018. While Thompson has a 2.00 GAA in three career starts against Dallas, Charlie Lindgren may return to the net after stopping 28 of 32 shots in the season opener against New Jersey.
The Capitals will need a strong defensive effort and continued offensive contributions from Ovechkin to overcome Dallas’ depth and disciplined play.
Washington is listed as a +120 underdog with a puck line of +1.5 (-210), offering value for bettors expecting a close game.
Prediction: Dallas Edges Out Washington
Dallas has shown early-season discipline, especially on the penalty kill, and the combination of Oettinger or DeSmith in goal provides stability. While Washington is riding high after a win over Vegas, the Stars’ balanced offense and experience should prove too much for the Capitals.
We predict a narrow win for Dallas, with the game staying under the 6.0 total as both teams rely on strong defensive performances.
Final Prediction: Dallas 3, Washington 2
