Struggling contenders face off as Stars visit Capitals

It's been more than a month since the Washington Capitals posted back-to-back victories.

It's been more than a month since the Washington Capitals posted back-to-back victories.

Meanwhile, it only seems that long since the Dallas Stars won a single contest.

Looking to build on a decisive victory, the Capitals try to extend the visiting Stars' season-high losing streak to seven games when they meet Wednesday night.

Though Washington entered play Tuesday in playoff position within the Eastern Conference, the team is 5-6-4 since a season-high six-game winning streak from Nov. 24-Dec. 3. None of those wins since that unbeaten run came in back-to-back fashion, but the Capitals are coming off a 7-4 home victory over Anaheim from Monday, their first win in three 2026 contests.

"We needed two points," Washington coach Spencer Carbery said. "At the end of the day, it was a huge game for our hockey team."

The Capitals have struggled to consistently win of late, notably while trying to overcome injuries to key figures such as Tom Wilson and Aliaksei Protas -- two of the club's top five scorers who are both day-to-day.

"I don't care how many injuries or who is out of the lineup, we need to find a way to win a hockey game," Carbery added.

Superstar Alex Ovechkin, owner of 914 career goals, snapped a four-game goal drought with two on Monday, and rookie Justin Sourdif recorded his first hat trick along with two assists versus Anaheim. Sourdif, who added two assists on Monday, has nine of his 18 points on the season over the past four games.

However, Ovechkin, Sourdif and the other Capitals failed to come through during a 1-0 loss at Dallas on Oct. 28. Jake Oettinger made 24 saves and Tyler Seguin scored the game's lone goal after the puck deflected in off the stick of Washington's Martin Fehervary during the second period.

Oettinger is 6-0-0 with a stellar 1.25 goals-against average and .958 save percentage against Washington in his career. However, he was pulled Tuesday after allowing five goals on Carolina's first 15 shots during Dallas' 6-3 road defeat.

It's uncertain if Oettinger, who has yielded 16 goals in his last four starts, will be in the Dallas net Wednesday. Backup Casey DeSmith stopped 16 of 17 shots in relief at Carolina.

Dallas is among the top three teams in the Central Division but has allowed at least four goals in every game of its current 0-3-3 rut. Jason Robertson, Mikko Rantanen and Wyatt Johnston scored Wednesday for the Stars, who trailed 5-1 after two periods and will again search for their first victory since winning four straight from Dec. 15-21.

"We have to be harder on the D zone," Stars defenseman Miro Heiskanen said. "We have to be more disciplined. ... We have to be a lot better to get back on track and find our game again."

Despite the Stars' current struggles, Johnston has tallied three of his 23 goals in the last two games. Robertson, meanwhile, has two goals with five assists in his last four contests.

Washington's Logan Thompson (2.37 goals-against average) made 18 saves in the October loss at Dallas. Though he's lost three consecutive starts, Thompson stopped 31 of 33 shots in the Capitals' 3-2 shootout loss to Chicago in his most recent start Saturday. Teammate Charlie Lindgren (3.13 GAA) has won his last two outings after making 41 saves on Monday.

--Field Level Media