Washington Capitals Put a Halt to Dallas Stars’ Opening Glory

In an electrifying showdown on Thursday night, Tom Wilson, Dylan Strome, and Taylor Raddysh emerged victorious, helping the Washington Capitals conclude the Dallas Stars’ season-opening triumph at four with a nail-biting 3-2 win.

Scoring Stars of the Night

Wilson, with his third goal in as many games, Strome with his second of the season, and Raddysh with his inaugural goal since his free agency move last summer, were the Capitals’ key players. The Capitals wrapped up their early homestand with consecutive victories, thanks to Charlie Lindgren’s 22 saves.

The Stars were ousted from the league’s undefeated squads despite a commendable effort from Colin Blackwell, who scored a short-handed goal, and an even-strength goal from Jason Robertson. Rookie Oskar Bäck assisted Blackwell, marking his first NHL point.

Disappointing Night for DeSmith

Dallas Stars’ goalie Casey DeSmith, despite facing 26 shots, was screened on two of the three goals he allowed. Regardless of the outcome, the Stars had a promising day as they extended Jake Oettinger’s contract, ensuring their No. 1 goaltender remains under contract until 2033.

Unseen Hero: Alex Ovechkin

On the Capitals side, Alex Ovechkin was an unseen hero. Despite not recording a point, he was among the standout performers, demonstrating his effectiveness on the ice.

Defining Moment

The defining moment came when Martin Fehervary blocked several shots in the closing minutes, enabling the Capitals to maintain their lead as the Stars were frantically trying to level the game.

Key Statistics

Defenseman John Carlson clocked in just under 25 minutes, slightly less than his 27 minutes of ice time against Vegas on Tuesday.

Looking Ahead

The Stars are set to return home and challenge Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday, while the Capitals are poised to visit the New Jersey Devils that night in the Metropolitan Division rivals’ second game this season.