Dallas' forwards ignited their offense, while DeSmith anchored defense, re-establishing dominance and snapping a losing streak against the Capitals.
The Dallas Stars showed signs of a return to their normal style of play Wednesday night, earning a 4-1 win over the Washington Capitals and snapping a six-game skid.
The victory was driven by a complete effort throughout the lineup, particularly from the forward group. Three of Dallas’ four lines saw forwards register points, a major improvement from recent games where scoring depth had been difficult to find.
A key factor in the turnaround was the play of the top line, where Sam Steel made an immediate impact after being elevated to skate alongside Wyatt Johnston and Mikko Rantanen. The trio combined to score two of the Stars’ four goals, with Steel tallying one goal and adding an assist on the other. Steel’s performance stood out as the strongest of the night, providing energy and offensive production that set the tone early.
Defensively, the Stars were far more structured than in recent outings. After surrendering 25 goals over their previous six games, Dallas limited the Capitals to just one score. The lone Washington goal came from Alex Ovechkin, widely regarded as the greatest goal scorer of all time. Outside of that moment, Dallas controlled play in its own zone and reduced high-danger chances.
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Casey DeSmith played a significant role in stabilizing the backend. With regular starter Jake Oettinger having struggled in recent games, DeSmith got the nod and delivered a strong performance, stopping 23 of 24 shots to help secure the win.
The game marked the second stop of the Stars’ six-game road trip. Dallas now heads west to San Jose, where it will face a Sharks team that has gained momentum by winning eight of its last 12 games and is beginning to look increasingly dangerous.
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