Stars @ Capitals, The Chase Continues: Game 31: Lines, Notes, How to Watch

Dallas Stars @ Washington Capitals

Thursday, Dec. 15: 6:00 PM CT

How to Watch: Bally Sports Southwest, NHL Network

The Dallas Stars continue their five-game road trip with their second meeting against the Washington Capitals on Thursday night. 

In the last contest between these two clubs, Jake Oettinger and the Stars shut out the Capitals 2-0 on Oct. 27. Dallas has recorded two shutouts this season. 

Dallas is coming off a monumental victory on the second night of a back-to-back against the New Jersey Devils. They responded to a tough late one-goal loss in Pittsburgh and beat a scorching Devils team 4-1 on their home ice. 

“Pretty close, considering the circumstances,” Stars Head Coach Pete DeBoer said when asked if this was their best win of the season. “Back-to-back with how we lost last game, I was really worried, mentally, where we were at. I thought the guys were outstanding. That’s a testament to our leadership.” 

Read More: Stars Continue to Display Their Ability to Adjust on the Fly 

The Stars have continued to play well, going 5-3-2 in their last 10 and jumping back above Winnipeg for first place in the Central Division. 

Without a doubt, however, the biggest storyline tonight is Alex Ovechkin’s chase to break the all-time NHL goals record. 

Ovechkin recorded a hat trick on Tuesday, tallying his 800th career goal and boosting him to within one of Gordie Howe (801) on that list. Ovechkin still sits 94 goals short of Wayne Gretzky’s ‘untouchable’ record (894). 

Starting goaltender: Jake Oettinger will return to the pipes tonight after Scott Wedgewood backstopped the Stars win in Jersey on Tuesday. 

Oettinger is 2-2-0 in his last four starts with a .910 save percentage. 

Stars Projected Lines

• Jason Robertson – Roope Hintz – Joe Pavelski
• Mason Marchment – Tyler Seguin – Ty Dellandrea
• Jamie Benn – Wyatt Johnston – Denis Gurianov
• Joel Kiviranta – Radek Faksa – Luke Glendening  
• Miro Heiskanen – Nils Lundkvist
• Ryan Suter – Colin Miller
• Esa Lindell – Jani Hakanpaa
• Jake Oettinger
• Scott Wedgewood

Capitals Scouting Report 

The Capitals have suffered the same fate that many NHL teams have this season: long streaks, good and bad. 

Right now, Washington is on a five-game winning streak and is coming off a 7-3 dusting of the Chicago Blackhawks on Tuesday. 

Ovechkin leads the club with 20 goals and 34 points while the goaltending duo of Darcy Kuemper and Charlie Lindgren have been excellent with a combined .913 save percentage. 

Lindgren will start for Washington on Thursday. 

He Said It 

“When we play the right way, we can play with anyone,” Ryan Suter said. “We have a good team. When we put it together, it goes well for us.”