Top 3 keys to victory for the Capitals against Stars

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The Washington Capitals take on the Dallas Stars tonight. To learn more about how to watch and bet on the game, click here. To learn more about how Marcus Johansson is enjoying a hot start to the season, click here. Read on to learn the top 3 keys the Capitals can defeat the Stars.

The Caps used to not have success in Big D but lately they have had better success than the Washington Commanders. The Caps have won two straight games at Dallas and compiled a record of 4-0-1 in their last five games in Big D.

Here are the top 3 keys to victory:

Alex Ovechkin, Washington Capitals (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

#3 Continue their road domination

The Capitals have a road record of 45-19-8 since the 2021-22 season, good for the most wins, points, and point percentage in that stretch. Their point total is 98 which equals a .681 points percentage.

Washington’s 3.51 goals per game on the road rank second in the NHL since 2020-21 while their 2.89 goals against rank eighth. Alex Ovechkin’s goal on Monday night at the New Jersey Devils marked the 397th goal he’s scored on the road, which only trails Wayne Gretzky at 402 for the most road goals in NHL history.

There is a reason Evgeny Kuznetsov likes to play on the road.

Nic Dowd, Washington Capitals Mandatory Credit: John Jones-USA TODAY Sports /

#2 Offensive execution

For the Caps to defeat the Stars they need to keep up the offensive execution that they displayed on Monday night against the New Jersey Devils.

In particular, the second period was the difference in that game. The Capitals scored four goals marking the third time this season Washington has scored four goals in a single period. The other two times both occurred in the third period against the Vancouver Canucks and Los Angeles Kings.

This was the first time they put up four goals in the second period.

The Capitals are the only team int he NHL to have multiple four goal periods this season. Through seven games, Washington’s 25 goals for overall and 18 goals for at five on five rank tied for sixth in the NHL, as of games played Oct. 25.

18 of the 21 skaters the Capitals have dressed this season have recorded at least one point. Guys like Marcus Johansson have heated up. MoJo in particular has shown that he was worth trading for last season and re signing heading into this season.

Nic Dowd is also on a roll. He scored his third goal fo the season on Monday at New Jersey, in his seventh game played. Last season it took Dowd 16 games to score three goals. All three have been the Caps opening goal in those respective games.

#1 Special teams brilliance

The Capitals power play has turned it on. That’s thanks in large part to bumping Marcus Johansson to the top unit which has helped them not only click but help MoJo find his rhythm on a familiar team.

Over their last five games, the Capitals have converted on six out of 15 power play opportunities for a success rate of 40 percent. Dylan Strome has recorded a team high four power play points with one goal and three assists while Alex Ovechkin (two goals, one assist), John Carlson (three assists), and Marcus Johansson (three assists) have each recorded three.

The Capitals ranked tied for ninth in the NHL in power play percentage at 25 percent through games played Oct. 25. The penalty kill has also been effective. They have killed off five straight opposing power plays in their last two games including all four on Monday night.

Conor Sheary scored shorthanded on the Devils third power play attempt, marking Washington’s first shorthanded goal of the season and the first of his career.

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The Capitals have drawn 30 penalties this season and have taken 24 penalties, tied for the fourth fewest in the NHL. Washington’s plus six net penalty differential ranks tied for second in the NHL.

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