Dallas Stars vs Washington Capitals Picks and Predictions December 16th 2024

Stars’ Home Dominance Faces Tough Test

The Dallas Stars (18-9-3) have been a force at home this season, boasting a 12-3-0 record at the American Airlines Center. On Monday, they’ll put that strength to the test against the surging Washington Capitals (19-7-3), who are riding an NHL-best 10-game road winning streak.

The Stars secured a 2-1 overtime win against the St. Louis Blues on Saturday, with Matt Duchene playing hero by scoring the game-winner. Despite struggling to find the back of the net consistently — scoring more than two goals only once in their past six games — Dallas remains competitive thanks to disciplined defense and timely goaltending.

“We’re creating quality chances, they’re just not going in right now,” Dallas coach Pete DeBoer said. “When that happens, you want to make sure you’re still trying to pick up points. … I like how we’re defending.”

Jake Oettinger has been pivotal in maintaining Dallas’ strong defensive play. The goaltender improved to 11-2-0 at home this season with a 1.99 goals-against average and a .926 save percentage. Oettinger’s reliability has given the Stars a chance to win, even during stretches of offensive drought.

Capitals Eye Record-Setting Road Streak

Washington heads into Monday’s game with the opportunity to extend its road-winning streak to 11 games, just one shy of the NHL record. The Capitals are the hottest team in the league, riding a nine-game point streak (8-0-1), highlighted by their 4-2 win over the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday.

Special teams have been a major factor in Washington’s recent success. The Capitals went 2-for-3 on the power play against Buffalo and have scored 11 power-play goals over their past 10 games. Their penalty kill has been equally impressive, keeping opponents scoreless in key situations.

Tom Wilson has been a revelation despite playing through a broken sinus bone. The gritty forward scored twice against the Sabres, marking his third multi-goal game in seven contests. Wilson has been on fire lately, tallying 11 points (seven goals, four assists) in his past 11 games.

Dylan Strome also continues to shine, scoring the game-winning goal against Buffalo while playing alongside John Carlson, who notched three assists in the same game.

“We’re having fun playing together,” Wilson said. “We knew we had to find a way to get it done, and the team stepped up.”

Key Players to Watch

Dallas Stars

• Jake Oettinger: The Stars’ goaltender has been nearly unbeatable at home, giving Dallas a solid foundation to counter Washington’s high-powered offense.
• Jason Robertson: With four points in his last three games, Robertson remains Dallas’ most consistent offensive threat.

Washington Capitals

• Tom Wilson: The physical forward is thriving offensively, delivering clutch performances despite playing through injury.
• John Carlson: The defenseman has been a key playmaker, with three assists in his last game and 24 points this season.

Keys to the Game

Dallas Stars

• Capitalize on Chances: The Stars’ recent scoring struggles mean they must take advantage of any opportunities they get against a strong Capitals defense.
• Defend the Rush: With Washington’s power play and offensive depth, Dallas needs to limit odd-man rushes and control the neutral zone.

Washington Capitals

• Maintain Special Teams Excellence: The Capitals’ power play and penalty kill have been crucial to their success and will need to shine against Dallas’ disciplined defense.
• Weather the Home-Ice Storm: Dallas thrives on energy at the American Airlines Center, so Washington must establish control early to negate the Stars’ momentum.

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Prediction: Stars 3, Capitals 2 (OT)

While Washington’s road streak is impressive, Dallas’ home dominance and Jake Oettinger’s stellar form give the Stars a slight edge in this tightly contested matchup. Expect an exciting game that could be decided in overtime.