Washington Capitals vs Dallas Stars Picks and Predictions October 17th 2024

Stars Shoot for First 5-0-0 Start in 18 Years vs. Capitals

The Dallas Stars aim to continue their perfect start to the season when they visit the Washington Capitals on Thursday night, with hopes of achieving their first 5-0-0 start in 18 years. Meanwhile, the Capitals, coming off an impressive win against the defending Stanley Cup champion Vegas Golden Knights, are looking to stop another undefeated team in its tracks.

Capitals Find Momentum After First Win

The Capitals handed Vegas its first loss of the season on Tuesday with a solid 4-2 victory at home. Led by two assists from captain Alex Ovechkin, who reached 700 career assists, and a goal from Tom Wilson, Washington rebounded from a season-opening loss to the New Jersey Devils. It was a significant team effort that showed promise for a Capitals squad looking to build early-season momentum.

“That’s just a great team win and a lot of positives to build off,” said goaltender Logan Thompson, who made 24 saves in his Capitals debut against his former team. Thompson, who was traded to Washington after four seasons with Vegas, gave a confident performance against his old teammates.

Despite his personal milestone, Ovechkin is focused on helping the Capitals string together wins rather than dwelling on individual accomplishments. “Yeah, it’s a pretty big number … so, yeah, move forward,” said Ovechkin, who has 12 goals and 21 points in 26 career games against Dallas.

Stars Look to Keep Rolling

Dallas enters the matchup undefeated, having fought hard for a 3-2 shootout win over the San Jose Sharks on Tuesday. With their sights set on their first 5-0-0 start since the 2006-07 season, the Stars have been finding ways to win even in close games.

Forward Matt Duchene, who has recorded a point in three of Dallas’ four games, emphasized the importance of the team’s strong start. “We’re happy with the start, but we’re not looking back. We want to keep putting the points away,” said Duchene.

The Stars’ defense and special teams have been solid, particularly on the penalty kill, where they’ve successfully killed 13 of 14 penalties. However, their power play has struggled, converting only 1 of 13 opportunities so far. Dallas will need to clean up its turnovers and capitalize on power play chances to keep up their winning streak.

Mason Marchment has been a key contributor, notching two goals and three assists through four games. He’s also found success in previous matchups with Washington, tallying two goals and three assists in five career games against the Capitals.

Goaltending Matchup

Dallas has relied heavily on goaltender Jake Oettinger, who has been outstanding to start the season. Oettinger improved to 3-0-0 after making 25 saves in the win over San Jose. His 1.63 goals-against average (GAA) and his perfect 4-0-0 record against Washington, paired with a 1.73 GAA and a .950 save percentage, make him a formidable presence in the net.

However, Stars coach Peter DeBoer may opt to give Casey DeSmith the start on Thursday. DeSmith stopped all 25 shots he faced in a 2-0 shutout victory over the Seattle Kraken last weekend, providing a strong alternative for Dallas in net.

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On the Capitals’ side, Logan Thompson has been solid with a 2.00 GAA in three career starts against Dallas while playing for Vegas. But Washington may turn back to Charlie Lindgren, who started their season opener against New Jersey and made 28 saves on 32 shots.

Series History and What to Watch

Washington has struggled against Dallas in recent years, going winless (0-3-2) in their last five meetings with the Stars. The Capitals haven’t beaten Dallas at home since March 2018, and they’ll need a strong performance to end that drought.

For the Stars, keeping their early-season momentum alive will depend on tightening up their play and continuing their effective penalty kill. A key focus will be on improving their power play, which has yet to click despite their overall success.

The Capitals, on the other hand, will look to build off their victory against Vegas by getting more consistent performances across the board. With Ovechkin and Wilson leading the way, Washington will aim to halt the Stars’ perfect start and begin their own winning streak.

This matchup should be an exciting one between two teams looking to solidify their early standings in a competitive NHL season.