Stars at Capitals preview

STARS (0-3-0) at CAPITALS (2-0-1)
7 p.m. ET; ESPN+, NBCSWA, FS-SW, NHL.TV

Kuznetsov was suspended for the first three games of the season for inappropriate conduct during the offseason.
With a regulation loss, Dallas, which has lost each of its first three games by one goal, would match its worst start in Dallas/Minnesota North Stars history since beginning the 1988-89 season 0-4-0.

Players to watch

Stars forward Roope Hintz has three goals in three games.
Capitals forward T.J. Oshie has two goals and an assist in three games.

They said it

"I think it comes down to game management. We're taking too many penalties and we're not managing the game well in big moments right now. Parts of every game we've had moments where we have complete momentum and we take it away from ourselves." -- Stars coach Jim Montgomery
"Now it's time for him to play and I just want him to enjoy being back out there and being with the team -- he obviously is an elite player in the League -- and for him to do the things he does. He needs to get back playing and enjoying the game of hockey and moving forward with his life." -- Capitals coach Todd Reirden on Evgeny Kuznetsov

Stars projected lineup

Jamie Benn -- Tyler Seguin -- Alexander Radulov
Mattias Janmark -- Roope Hintz -- Joe Pavelski
Andrew Cogliano -- Radek Faksa -- Joel L'Esperance
Nick Caamano -- Rhett Gardner -- Justin Dowling
Andrej Sekera -- John Klingberg
Esa Lindell -- Miro Heiskanen
Jamie Oleksiak -- Taylor Fedun
Ben Bishop
Anton Khudobin
Scratched:Joel Hanley, Denis Gurianov
Injured:Corey Perry (foot), Jason Dickinson (upper body), Blake Comeau (lower body), Roman Polak (upper body), Stephen Johns (headaches), Martin Hanzal (back)

Capitals projected lineup

Alex Ovechkin -- Nicklas Backstrom -- Tom Wilson
Jakub Vrana -- Lars Eller -- T.J. Oshie
Carl Hagelin -- Evgeny Kuznetsov -- Richard Panik
Brendan Leipsic -- Chandler Stephenson -- Garnet Hathaway
Jonas Siegenthaler -- John Carlson
Dmitry Orlov -- Nick Jensen
Radko Gudas -- Tyler Lewington
Braden Holtby
Ilya Samsonov
Scratched:Nic Dowd
Injured:Michal Kempny (hamstring)

Status report

Montgomery said Perry, who was on the ice after the morning skate, is getting closer to returning and will be re-evaluated by team doctors in Dallas on Thursday. … Reirden said Kempny continues to improve and is being evaluated each day. … Lewington will make his season debut and play his third NHL game.

Stat pack

Dallas is 0-for-6 on the power play this season. … The Stars are 3-1-1 in their past five games against the Capitals. … Janmark has a goal and two assists in three games. … Holtby needs one shutout to break a tie with Olie Kolzig (35) for the most shutouts in Capitals history. … Ovechkin is one power-play goal from passing Luc Robitaille (247) for fourth most in NHL history.