The Dallas Stars head east to face the Washington Capitals in an interconference clash that could test Dallas’ road resilience against Washington’s home-ice advantage. As defending Western Conference finalists, the Stars aim to rebound from a recent overtime loss, while the Capitals look to build on a strong defensive showing despite injury concerns. With both teams hovering around .500 in their last 10, this matchup at Capital One Arena promises physical play and potential special-teams drama. Below is a comprehensive breakdown of all key aspects.
Venue Location
The game will be played at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C. This 20,356-seat venue has been the Capitals’ home since 1997 and is known for its energetic atmosphere, especially during nationally televised games. Washington has a 12-6-3 home record this season, making it a challenging spot for visitors.
Puckdrop
is set for 7:00 PM ET. The game will be nationally televised on TNT and streamed on HBO Max, with local radio coverage on The Ticket 96.7-FM/1310-AM for Dallas fans and available on NHL Network for highlights.
Recent Team Forms
Dallas has alternated wins and losses but shows resilience on the road, while Washington has mixed results with a focus on high-scoring affairs.
Dallas Stars: The Stars are 4-4-2 in their last 10 games, averaging 3.1 goals per game (mid-pack) while allowing 2.9 (solid defensively). They’ve gone 3-1-1 in their last five road games, highlighted by a 5-2 win over Minnesota but marred by a 3-6 loss to Carolina on January 6. Power play: 25.0% (top-10), penalty kill: 82.4% (mid-pack). Key trend: Under in 6 of last 9 games.
Washington Capitals: The Capitals are 4-4-2 in their last 10, scoring 3.6 goals per game but allowing 3.3. They’ve won 4 of their last 6 at home, including a 7-4 thrashing of Anaheim on January 5 but a 2-3 loss to Chicago earlier. Power play: 22.5% (mid-pack), penalty kill: 78.6% (bottom-10). Key trend: Over in 7 of last 10 games.
| Team | Last 10 Games | Last Game Result | Key Stat from Recent Form |
| Dallas Stars | 4-4-2 | L 3-6 @ CAR | 3-1-1 in last 5 road; Under in 6 of 9; 25.0% PP efficiency |
| Washington Capitals | 4-4-2 | W 7-4 vs. ANA | 4-2 in last 6 home; Over in 7 of 10; 3.6 GPG average |
Injury Report
Both teams deal with notable absences, potentially weakening Dallas’ forward group and Washington’s physical edge.
Dallas Stars:
Jamie Benn (LW): Day-to-Day (Upper Body) – Team captain and key scorer (7 goals in 23 games); impacts leadership and physicality.
Lian Bichsel (D): Out (Lower Body) – Defensive depth hit; affects blue-line rotations.
Tyler Seguin (C): Out (ACL) – Long-term absence; major loss for secondary scoring (reevaluated post-Olympics).
Washington Capitals:
Tom Wilson (RW): Day-to-Day (Lower Body) – Physical forward (monitoring three players total, including Wilson); hurts forecheck and penalty kill.
Player Matchups
Without full rosters, focus shifts to star-driven battles, with Dallas’ goaltending potentially deciding the outcome.
Roope Hintz (DAL) vs. Alex Ovechkin (WSH): Hintz (team-leading points) brings speed and two-way play against Ovechkin’s power-play threat (leading Capitals in goals). Ovechkin’s shot volume could test Dallas’ top-ranked PK (82.4%).
Jason Robertson (DAL) vs. John Carlson (WSH): Robertson’s playmaking (assists leader) vs. Carlson’s blue-line offense (top D-scorer for Caps). This could spark odd-man rushes, with Dallas forcing turnovers (8.2 SPG).
Matt Duchene (DAL) vs. Dylan Strome (WSH): Duchene’s scoring touch (secondary offense) against Strome’s faceoff prowess (52% wins). Center ice control will be key in a game likely decided by possession.
Jake Oettinger (DAL) vs. Charlie Lindgren (WSH): Oettinger (.912 SV%) anchors Dallas’ defense (2.72 GAA) against Lindgren (.905 SV%). Goaltending duel could keep scores low if injuries limit offense.
Bench units: Dallas’ depth (e.g., Wyatt Johnston) vs. Washington’s youth (e.g., Connor McMichael) for special teams.
Series History
Dallas holds the recent edge, going 7-3 in the last 10 meetings with a -1 goal differential. Overall, the Stars lead the all-time series 59-31-16-4. In those 10 games, Dallas averaged 3.4 goals to Washington’s 3.5, but won via better goaltending (.918 SV% vs. .902). The Stars have won 4 of the last 5 in Washington, often by holding the Caps under 3 goals. This season’s first meeting saw Dallas win 1-0 on October 28, 2025.
Betting Trends
Dallas: 18-25 ATS overall (10-11 ATS road); Under in 6 of last 9; 6-1 SU/ATS in last 7 vs. Washington; 4-6 ATS as underdogs.
Washington: 22-21 ATS overall (12-9 ATS home); Over in 7 of last 10; 3-7 SU in last 10 vs. Dallas; 4-6 ATS as favorites.
| Category | Dallas | Washington |
| ATS Overall | 18-25 | 22-21 |
| ATS Last 10 | 4-6 | 4-6 |
| O/U Overall | 19-24 | 23-20 |
| O/U Last 10 | 4-6 | 7-3 |
Game Odds
Dallas Stars 6.5
Washington Capitals – 135
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Tuesday, January 6, 2026
