Capitals at Stars preview

CAPITALS (21-12-1) at STARS (18-14-2)
8:30 p.m. ET; FW-SW, NBCSWA+, NHL.TV

Oshie, who was injured on Dec. 4, has 23 points (10 goals, 12 assists) in 28 games this season, and will play on the second line Tuesday with center Evgeny Kuznetsov and forward Jakub Vrana.
The Capitals, looking to win their fourth straight, are 7-1-0 in their past eight games and can take sole possession of first place in the Metropolitan Division; they are tied with the New Jersey Devils for first place in the Metropolitan Division with 43 points. Goaltender Braden Holtby will make his sixth straight start.
Goaltender Ben Bishop will start for the Stars, who look to avoid their third straight loss. Dallas is 2-4-3 in its past nine games, and will play nine of its next 10 at home.

Players to watch

Capitals forward Alex Ovechkin has four points (two goals, two assists) in a four-game point streak, and 17 points (10 goals, seven assists) in his past 12 games.
Stars center Tyler Seguin has two assists in his past seven games after having 10 points (six goals, four assists) in his previous eight games.

They said it

"Sometimes it takes a little bit, it really all depends. Every concussion is felt a little bit different. … We'll see how it goes out there tonight." - Capitals forward T.J. Oshie on returning from a concussion
"I think you've just got to weather the storms on special teams and hope that they don't hurt you. I think more than anything, what's hurt us on PK is taking too many penalties." -- Stars coach Ken Hitchcock on preparing to face the Capitals

Capitals projected lineup

Alex Ovechkin -- Nicklas Backstrom -- Tom Wilson
Jakub Vrana -- Evgeny Kuznetsov -- T.J. Oshie
Brett Connolly -- Lars Eller -- Andre Burakovsky
Chandler Stephenson -- Jay Beagle -- Alex Chiasson
Dmitry Orlov -- Matt Niskanen
Brooks Orpik -- John Carlson
Christian Djoos -- Madison Bowey
Braden Holtby
Philipp Grubauer
Scratched: Taylor Chorney, Devante Smith-Pelly
Injured: None

Stars projected lineup

Remi Elie -- Jamie Benn -- Alexander Radulov
Mattias Janmark -- Tyler Seguin -- Devin Shore
Gemel Smith -- Martin Hanzal -- Jason Spezza
Antoine Roussel -- Radek Faksa -- Tyler Pitlick
Esa Lindell -- John Klingberg
Dan Hamhuis -- Greg Pateryn
Stephen Johns -- Julius Honka
Ben Bishop
Kari Lehtonen
Scratched:Brett Ritchie
Injured: Marc Methot (knee)

Status report

The Stars hope Methot, who skated on his own before the morning skate, can return before the Christmas break begins. … Dallas traded defenseman Jamie Oleksiak to the Pittsburgh Penguins for a conditional fourth-round pick in the 2019 NHL Draft.

Stat pack

Kuznetsov has five points (one goal, four assists) in a three-game point streak. … Benn has five points points (two goals, three assists) in his past five games.