‘Time To Go On The Road’: Dallas Stars Visit Alex Tuch, Washington Capitals To Open Two-Game Trip
WASHINGTON — After a day off Sunday and practice Monday in Frisco, the Dallas Stars open a two-game road trip Tuesday night against the Washington Capitals at Capital One Arena. Puck drop is 6 p.m. CT on Prime Video, with the radio call on The Ticket 96.7-FM and 1310-AM.
Dallas is 8-5-1 with 17 points, fourth in the Central Division, and 3-1-1 on the road. The Stars went 4-2-0 on a six-game homestand that ended Saturday, when they beat the Columbus Blue Jackets 3-1 to snap a two-game skid. Before that, Dallas lost 5-1 to the New Jersey Devils on Oct. 27 and 5-2 to the Montreal Canadiens on Oct. 29.
After practice Monday in Frisco, Stars coach Glen Gulutzan said the homestand ran too long and that the last three games at American Airlines Center showed signs of mental fatigue. Dallas was outscored 10-3 in the losses to New Jersey and Montreal.
“With the way we are playing at home, it’s time to go on the road,” Gulutzan said.
Last season, the Stars went 24-9-8 away from home. Their .683 points percentage on the road tied for second in the NHL. Dallas scored 3.41 goals per game on the road, which ranked sixth, and 3.24 at home, which ranked 15th.
“I just think that we don’t squeeze as much on the road,” Gulutzan explained. “We still bring the defensive game, we don’t squeeze our sticks as much to create offense and by defending, we get more offense. I think we’re more fluid on the road than we are at home.”
Alex Tuch Leads Washington Capitals Into First Meeting With Dallas Stars
Washington is 8-5-0 with 16 points, third in the Metropolitan Division, and 6-3-0 at home. The Capitals lost 5-1 to the Minnesota Wild on Sunday and have lost three of their four games against Western Conference opponents.
Dallas entered Tuesday allowing a league-low 22.3 shots on goal per game. Its 2.14 goals-against average also leads the NHL. Capitals coach Spencer Carbery said before the game that the Stars’ defensemen close quickly and are good with their sticks.
“They’re one of the stingiest teams defensively,” Carbery said. “They make you have to work. Their D are extremely good with their sticks. They close well. They take away time and space, so they make it really, really difficult not only to register a scoring chance, but also to register a shot, to gain possession in the offensive zone. So peel it back about three steps before you even get into a scoring situation.”
“They do a real good job in those areas,” Carbery continued. “It’s another good test for us, another one of the top teams in the West, another team that I think, when you look at Stanley Cup contenders and teams that are going to be around when things shake out. They’re one of the top teams in the Western Conference and therefore one of the top teams in the league.”
Alex Tuch has 10 goals, 2 assists, and 12 points in 13 games in his first season with Washington. His 10 goals lead the Capitals, and 5 of them have been game-winners. Tuch has scored 5 goals in his last four games, a run that started Oct. 24 against the Buffalo Sabres.
In 17 career games against Dallas, Tuch has 6 goals, 3 assists, and 9 points. He has 3 goals and 2 assists in his last five games against the Stars, dating to April 9, 2024. Dylan Strome has 3 goals, 9 assists, and 12 points, tied with Tuch for the team lead. Captain Alex Ovechkin is projected to play on the third line, according to RMNB’s Chris Cerullo.
Carbery named Logan Thompson his starter, with Charlie Lindgren as the backup. Thompson is 5-4-0 with a 2.93 goals-against average and an .898 save percentage in 9 appearances. Against Dallas, he is 1-3-1 in his career with a 2.03 goals-against average and a .928 save percentage. A win would move him past Pat Riggin, who has 67, for eighth on the Capitals’ career wins list.
Washington is carrying three goaltenders after acquiring Rémi Poirier, who practiced with the team for the first time Monday and will be a healthy scratch. Defensemen Rasmus Sandin (knee) and Vincent Desharnais (appendectomy) remain out. The Capitals’ power play is 6-for-34 at 17.6%, and their penalty kill has stopped 34 of 44 chances, 77.3%.
Stars Lineup, Injuries, And Roope Hintz’s Streak Against Washington
Gulutzan changed three of his four forward lines at practice Monday, according to Stars Thoughts’ Robert Tiffin. Jamie Benn moved up to the top line with Wyatt Johnston and Mikko Rantanen. Arttu Hyry, who had centered the third line, practiced on the wing beside Jason Robertson and Roope Hintz.
“Artie’s played well for us,” Gulutzan said. “So a thought in my mind, even before the season started was, I like to have lefty/righty faceoff guys on the same line. Then you can start them anywhere in the zones.”
“So the thought with that is to let him get up and running,” Gulutzan continued. “He is up and running, so we’re gonna see how he does on the wing. He’s big. He’s heavy. He’s good on the walls. So that might be a fit.”
Justin Hryckowian centered Sam Steel and Tyler Seguin. Radek Faksa centered Joel Kiviranta and David Perron, and Gulutzan said he expects Faksa to return Tuesday from an upper-body injury. The defense pairs did not change from Saturday, with Esa Lindell and Miro Heiskanen on top, Thomas Harley with Nils Lundkvist, and Lian Bichsel with Tyler Myers.
Dallas remains without defenseman Kyle Capobianco, who is expected to miss about four weeks with a lower-body injury. Matt Duchene is expected to miss about three months after core surgery, and Oskar Bäck is on long-term injured reserve with a finger injury. Defenseman Trey Taylor and forward Colin Blackwell are projected scratches.
Gulutzan said the team has held meetings about the homestand and that the players understand what has to improve. The Stars won five straight games before the losses to New Jersey and Montreal.
“We are trending in the right direction,” Gulutzan said. “The last few games, we took a step back, not in our systems but in our mindset and the way we play. I thought we could build more momentum from those five games, but now you’ve got to draw a line in the sand and move forward.”
Jake Oettinger is expected to start after stopping 24 of 25 shots against Columbus. He is 7-3-1 with a 1.63 goals-against average and a .921 save percentage in 11 games. On the road this season, Oettinger has a 0.33 goals-against average and a .985 save percentage.
“I love playing on the road,” Oettinger said. “It’s fun when you have everyone rooting against you. There’s something about playing on the road, it gets the juices flowing.”
Hintz enters Tuesday with an eight-game point streak against Washington, totaling 7 goals, 4 assists, and 11 points in that span. He has 8 goals, 5 assists, and 13 points in 12 career games against the Capitals. Seguin has points in three straight games against Washington and 14 goals, 9 assists, and 23 points in 32 career games against them. Perron, with 5 goals and 18 assists in 31 games, is tied with Seguin for the most career points against the Capitals among active Stars.
Rantanen leads Dallas with 7 goals, 10 assists, and 17 points. Robertson has 5 goals, 9 assists, and 14 points, and Johnston has 3 goals, 8 assists, and 11 points in 12 games. Heiskanen had 2 assists Saturday and passed Risto Siltanen for fourth among Finnish defensemen in NHL career points with 357. He averages 25:59 of ice time, sixth among NHL skaters entering Monday.
The Stars have killed 44 of 47 penalties, 93.6%, and have converted 7 of 32 power plays, 21.9%. They are averaging 2.64 goals per game, which ranks 27th in the league.
Benn said the Stars go into road buildings wanting to “be the villain,” and that the focus comes easier away from home. The 37-year-old captain will start on the top line if Monday’s practice combinations hold.
“We’ve got a long way to go,” Benn said. “The best thing about this sport is it can humble you pretty quick and there’s always room for improvement. We’re not satisfied. We’ve got some work to do.”
Dallas has won eight of its last nine games against Washington, going 8-1-0 since March 20, 2022, and outscoring the Capitals 26-16. The Stars are 6-1-0 in their last seven games at Capital One Arena and 60-31-20 all-time against Washington.
Columbus hosts the Stars on Thursday at 6 p.m. CT. Dallas is back at American Airlines Center two nights later against the San Jose Sharks, with puck drop at 7 p.m. CT. Washington visits Dallas on Dec. 15 for the second and final meeting between the teams this season.
