Dallas Stars vs Washington Capitals Picks and Predictions October 28th 2025

Washington Capitals vs Dallas Stars Betting Preview

The Washington Capitals visit the Dallas Stars on Tuesday, October 28, 2025, at American Airlines Center. The Stars are riding a two-game win streak and look to keep momentum rolling at home, while Washington tries to recover from its worst loss of the season.

Line Movement and Odds

Dallas opened as a -140 favorite with Washington listed at +117. The total is set at 6.0 goals, reflecting expectations for an open, fast-paced matchup.

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Washington Capitals Outlook

The Capitals enter this matchup at 6-3-0 but are looking to rebound after a 7-1 loss to Ottawa that exposed defensive gaps and depth issues. Prior to that setback, Washington had won six of seven behind an energized offense led by Tom Wilson and Dylan Strome.

Wilson leads the team with 11 points through nine games, while Strome adds 10. The Capitals rank eighth in hits (227) and rely heavily on physical play to dictate tempo. With Strome day-to-day due to a lower-body injury, Washington recalled Ethen Frank from Hershey to reinforce its forward group.

Goaltender Logan Thompson (5-1-0, 1.50 GAA, .938 SV%) is expected to start. He has been one of the league’s most consistent early-season performers and owns a .929 save percentage across three career starts versus Dallas.

Washington Capitals Injury Report

• Rasmus Sandin – out (upper body)
• Dylan Strome – questionable (lower body)

Dallas Stars Outlook

The Stars are back in form after rallying for consecutive 3-2 comeback victories over Carolina and Nashville. Now 5-3-1, Dallas sits fourth in the Central Division and continues to show elite resilience under head coach Glen Gulutzan.

Mikko Rantanen’s power-play goal sealed Sunday’s win, extending his point streak to three games. Jason Robertson added two assists, while Oskar Back scored in his season debut after missing eight games with injury.

Dallas remains one of the league’s most dangerous power-play teams, ranking second with 10 power-play goals. The Stars also rank fifth in blocked shots (165), showing strong commitment in the defensive zone.

Jake Oettinger (4-2-1, 2.98 GAA, .899 SV%) is expected to return to the crease, where he has been dominant against Washington with a career 5-0-0 record and a 1.49 GAA.

Dallas Stars Injury Report

• Jamie Benn – out (lung)
• Roope Hintz – doubtful (undisclosed)
• Matt Duchene – questionable (undisclosed)
• Nils Lundkvist – out (lower body)
• Luke Krys – out (Achilles)
• Kyle McDonald – out (knee)
• Chase Wheatcroft – out (wrist)

Key Matchup / Path to Victory

The Capitals’ physicality will test Dallas’ puck movement, but the Stars’ power play could be the difference-maker. With Washington struggling to stay disciplined — ranking bottom five in penalty minutes — Dallas’ special teams have a clear edge.

In even strength, the Stars’ depth scoring from Wyatt Johnston and Rantanen gives them multiple attack options, while Washington needs a strong bounce-back from Ovechkin and Wilson to generate offense early.

Best Bets and Prediction

Dallas has won two straight and carries superior home-ice metrics into this contest. Washington’s recent struggles to contain speed and maintain defensive structure give the edge to the Stars. Expect another strong outing from Oettinger to anchor a close, high-event game.

Projected Score: Stars 4, Capitals 3
Best Bet: Stars Moneyline (-140)
Secondary Lean: Over 6.0 goals (-103)

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