Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the NHL match.
Washington Capitals
Washington Capitals approach the game with a 2-game losing streak and continue to deal with injuries of their key players such as Max Pacioretty and T.J. Oshie (not to mention the absence of Nicklas Bäckström). Recently, there have been concerns about Evgeny Kuznetsov's form, but he is expected to play in this game, having practised on the third line in pre-game training. In the last two games, Washington scored only 1 goal, and in 6 of their last 7 matches, the team scored more than 2 goals only once. In the Eastern Conference, the side currently holds the 10th position with a negative goal difference. The average total goals in games involving the Capitals is 5.1, the lowest in the Eastern Conference. The team's top scorers, Alexander Ovechkin and John Carlson, have each scored only 14 points, ranking 165th and 170th in the league. Ovechkin, with just 5 goals this season, is not even the top scorer in the club.
Dallas Stars
Dallas Stars have lost their last 2 matches, with 3 defeats in the last 4 games. The team has suffered 3 consecutive losses in the away games, including one shutout. In the Western Conference, the Texas-based team is in 5th place, and in terms of points lost, they are in the top 3. The average total goals in games involving Dallas is 6.2, an average result. American veteran John Pavelski continues to impress with what can be described as not just a second but a third youth. Currently, Pavelski is the top scorer for Dallas and ranks 33rd in the league. He is also the team's leading goal scorer.
Washington Capitals – Dallas Stars prediction
Dallas traditionally focus on defence, especially in away games. It's unclear what Washington focus on, but it's certainly not on scoring goals. The match is expected to be one of the most uneventful in the game day, and a lower total is likely. In the last 8 head-to-head games, no more than 6 goals were scored in regulation time.
