Welcome to the latest edition of NHL Predictions. Each day, our team here at Last Word on Hockey breaks down head-to-head matchups and other key elements that may influence the outcome of each game. We also have a featured game of the day, considered must-watch TV. This NHL Predictions article looks at the Dallas Stars‘ first East Coast game of the season against the Washington Capitals.
NHL Predictions
Dallas Stars vs. Washington Capitals
Time: 7:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT)
TV: Victory+, ESPN+
The NHL season is about a week into things, and the Dallas Stars make their first trip to the East Coast to take on the Capitals on Thursday night. The one-game road trip follows a 3-0 homestand for Dallas, which has yet to lose this season. The Stars got incredible play from goaltenders Jake Oettinger and Casey DeSmith during that period and saw their deep lineup create matchup problems for each opponent.
Washington has only played two games — beating the Vegas Golden Knights and losing its opener to the New Jersey Devils. While the goaltending has needed work, the offense has been sound with seven goals in goals in two games. It now faces yet another team with a potent offense and a surprisingly sound defence.
The Stars Story
Dallas is off to a historic 4-0-0 start, its first since the 2006-07 season. Although undefeated and leading the NHL in points, the Stars narrowly avoided their first loss on Tuesday against the San Jose Sharks with a shootout victory. Veteran forward Mason Marchment has already tallied multi-point games twice this season and is tied with rookie Logan Stankoven for the team lead with five points.
Marchment is one of several Stars’ players with good career numbers against Washington, collecting a point in each matchup. Forwards Jamie Benn and Matt Duchene bring three-game point streaks against the Capitals into Thursday’s contest. Forward Roope Hintz has collected a point in five straight against Washington.
Dallas will also be without defenceman Matt Dumba for this game. He is considered “week-to-week” with a lower-body injury. Oettinger will also be out, and he has never lost to the Capitals. DeSmith is 4-2-1 against Washington.
The Capitals Story
After sneaking into the Stanley Cup Playoffs as the final Eastern Conference team last season, Washington is off to a 1-1-0 start. The Capitals are looking to stack back-to-back wins over Western Conference contenders after beating Vegas on Tuesday. Newly acquired defenceman Jakob Chychrun scored his first goal as a Capital in that game, forward Tom Wilson continued a hot start with his second goal in two games.
The Capitals still have noted veterans like Alexander Ovechkin, Nicklas Backstrom, and TJ Oshie on the roster. However, Backstrom and Oshie have been dealing with injuries, and Ovechkin has not scored yet. He does have three assists, and younger players like Dylan Strome, Jakub Vrana, and Aliaksei Protas have stepped up.
Prediction
Dallas has been a good road team and has more firepower and a better goaltender, but Washington is a sneaky team. DeSmith has been good but is not the difference-maker o=Oettinger has been. We’ve seen somewhat similarly built teams in Nashville and San Jose give the Stars trouble. Like it did in those games, Dallas will need to keep punching until the final horn sounds if it wants to emerge at 5-0-0.
Prediction: Stars win 5-3.
Prop Bets of the Night
Ovechkin is due to score a goal (+190 according to Bet365). He has 12 goals in 26 games against the Stars in his career, and Washington will need him to be on the attack. Dallas’ Wyatt Johnston (+170) and Jason Robertson (+125) will have plenty of opportunities to get assists, especially when playing with Hintz, who is listed at -125 to tally a point.
Main photo by: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
