Stars at Capitals
The Dallas Stars must move forward without their No. 1 goaltender as they attempt to salvage a victory to end a demoralizing six-game road trip Tuesday night against the Washington Capitals. The Stars are 0-3-2 on their trek, lost goalie Ben Bishop for at least two weeks during a 4-2 loss at Winnipeg on Sunday and have fallen two points behind in the race for the final wild-card spot in the Western Conference.
“We know we’ve got to win games, we know there is going to be movement,” Dallas forward Mattias Janmark told reporters. “We’re right there, and we’ve just got to stay alive here when we’re going through this tough stretch. Then, I think once we can turn the page here, we can make a push.” Kari Lehtonen must step up in net for the Stars and is 18-6-3 lifetime against the Capitals, who lead the Metropolitan Division by two points after seeing their four-game win streak end with a 6-3 loss to Philadelphia on Sunday. Washington looks to take advantage of struggling Dallas before playing five straight games against teams outside of playoff position as it fights for a third straight division title. Captain Alex Ovechkin has three goals and three assists during a four-game point streak for the Capitals, who have not won in regulation against the Stars since 2006-07.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, FS Southwest Plus, NBCS Washington
ABOUT THE STARS (38-27-8): Bishop was making his second appearance after missing five starts with a left knee injury and likely won’t be evaluated until later this month as Mike McKenna was recalled to back up Lehtonen. Dallas is also without center Martin Hanzal (back) and veteran defenseman Marc Methot is day-to-day with a hand injury, but it outshot Winnipeg 30-24 in Sunday’s loss. Captain Jamie Benn scored his 26th goal Sunday and has recorded six of his 66 points in the last four games to sit second on the team behind Tyler Seguin (38 goals, 70 points).
ABOUT THE CAPITALS (41-24-7): Washington also has some injury concerns as defenseman Brooks Orpik (lower body) and second-leading scorer Evgeny Kuznetsov (left arm) are expected to miss their second straight game. Defenseman John Carlson has put up two goals and four assists during a five-game point streak while Nicklas Backstrom has matched that streak, scoring three times and setting up five during his string. Goalie Braden Holtby (30-15-4) is still trying to find his game after winning two of his previous three starts, stopping 22 of 25 against the New York Islanders on Friday.
OVERTIME
1. The Stars are 10-0-3 in the last 13 meetings with the Capitals, but dropped a 4-3 overtime decision Dec. 19.
2. Washington RW T.J. Oshie has scored three times in his last three contests after suffering through a 19-game goal drought.
3. Carlson and Dallas' John Klingberg lead all blue liners in the league with 59 points apiece.