DALLAS (AP) — Roope Hintz had his first two-goal game of the season and Jake Oettinger stopped 25 shots as the Dallas Stars beat the surging Washington Capitals 3-1 on Monday night.
Rookie defenseman Lian Bichsel also scored for Dallas, his second goal in three NHL games.
Click to Gallery
Washington Capitals left wing Pierre-Luc Dubois, center right, runs into Dallas Stars goaltender Jake Oettinger, center left, during the third period of an NHL hockey game in Dallas, Monday, Dec. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Gareth Patterson)
Washington Capitals right wing Brandon Duhaime (22) punches Dallas Stars defenseman Brendan Smith (2) during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Dallas, Monday, Dec. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Gareth Patterson)
Washington Capitals center Dylan Strome (17) is defended by Dallas Stars center Logan Stankoven, left, during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Dallas, Monday, Dec. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Gareth Patterson)
Washington Capitals defenseman Jakob Chychrun lines up a shot during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Dallas Stars in Dallas, Monday, Dec. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Gareth Patterson)
Washington Capitals goaltender Charlie Lindgren sprays himself with water during a timeout during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Dallas Stars in Dallas, Monday, Dec. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Gareth Patterson)
Washington Capitals center Dylan Strome (17) celebrates with center Nic Dowd (26) after scoring during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Dallas Stars in Dallas, Monday, Dec. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Gareth Patterson)
Dallas Stars center Matt Duchene (95) skates after shooting on goal during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Washington Capitals in Dallas, Monday, Dec. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Gareth Patterson)
Dallas Stars center Logan Stankoven (11) recovers the puck as Washington Capitals defenseman Jakob Chychrun (6) defends during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Dallas, Monday, Dec. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Gareth Patterson)
Dallas Stars goaltender Jake Oettinger makes a save during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Washington Capitals in Dallas, Monday, Dec. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Gareth Patterson)
Dallas Stars center Roope Hintz (24) blocks a shot by Washington Capitals defenseman Martin Fehervary (42) during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Dallas, Monday, Dec. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Gareth Patterson)
Ryan Strome scored in the first period for the Capitals, who had a franchise-record 10-game road winning streak snapped.
Dallas is 13-3-0 at American Airlines Center, the best home points percentage (.813) in the NHL. Washington went in best in the league in both overall record (21-6-2) and road mark (12-2-0).
Oettinger has 16 wins, second-most in the NHL. He won a battle of goaltenders who attended the same high school (Lakeville North, Min.) and share the same birthdate (Dec. 18). Charlie Lindgren, who made 21 saves, will turn 31 on Wednesday, Oettinger will be 26.
Hintz tied the score 1-1 with a second-period power-play goal and provided an insurance goal with 5:02 left in the third. He’s tied for the club lead with 13 goals.
Jason Robertson had two assists.
Capitals: They’re 8-3-1 without Alex Ovechkin, who fractured his left fibula on Nov. 18. Ovechkin participated in skating drills during the morning session wearing a non-contact jersey. Forward Andrew Mangiapane was out with an illness.
Stars: Defenseman Thomas Harley, second among Dallas skaters in average minutes, was out with the flu.
Dallas didn’t allow a shot on goal during Washington’s one third-period power play with the score 2-1.
The Stars were 4 for 4 on the penalty kill and are 10 for 10 in their past four games, all at home.
Capitals visit Chicago on Tuesday, and Stars host Toronto on Wednesday.
AP NHL: https://apnews.com/NHL
Washington Capitals left wing Pierre-Luc Dubois, center right, runs into Dallas Stars goaltender Jake Oettinger, center left, during the third period of an NHL hockey game in Dallas, Monday, Dec. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Gareth Patterson)
Washington Capitals right wing Brandon Duhaime (22) punches Dallas Stars defenseman Brendan Smith (2) during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Dallas, Monday, Dec. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Gareth Patterson)
Washington Capitals center Dylan Strome (17) is defended by Dallas Stars center Logan Stankoven, left, during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Dallas, Monday, Dec. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Gareth Patterson)
Washington Capitals defenseman Jakob Chychrun lines up a shot during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Dallas Stars in Dallas, Monday, Dec. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Gareth Patterson)
Washington Capitals goaltender Charlie Lindgren sprays himself with water during a timeout during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Dallas Stars in Dallas, Monday, Dec. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Gareth Patterson)
Washington Capitals center Dylan Strome (17) celebrates with center Nic Dowd (26) after scoring during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Dallas Stars in Dallas, Monday, Dec. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Gareth Patterson)
Dallas Stars center Matt Duchene (95) skates after shooting on goal during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Washington Capitals in Dallas, Monday, Dec. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Gareth Patterson)
Dallas Stars center Logan Stankoven (11) recovers the puck as Washington Capitals defenseman Jakob Chychrun (6) defends during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Dallas, Monday, Dec. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Gareth Patterson)
Dallas Stars goaltender Jake Oettinger makes a save during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Washington Capitals in Dallas, Monday, Dec. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Gareth Patterson)
Dallas Stars center Roope Hintz (24) blocks a shot by Washington Capitals defenseman Martin Fehervary (42) during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Dallas, Monday, Dec. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Gareth Patterson)
TORONTO (AP) — Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau faced the biggest test of his political career after Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland, long one of his most powerful and loyal ministers, resigned from the Cabinet on Monday.
The stunning move raised questions about how much longer the prime minister of nearly 10 years — whose popularity has plummeted due to concerns about inflation and immigration — can stay on as his administration scrambles to deal with incoming U.S. President-elect Donald Trump.
“The Great State of Canada is stunned as the Finance Minister resigns, or was fired, from her position by Governor Justin Trudeau," Trump posted on Truth Social. “Her behavior was totally toxic, and not at all conducive to making deals which are good for the very unhappy citizens of Canada. She will not be missed!!!”
Trump previously trolled Trudeau by calling Canada a state. And during his first term in his office — when he renegotiated the free trade deal with Canada and Mexico — Trump said Freeland wasn't liked.
Trudeau swiftly named longtime ally and close friend Dominic LeBlanc, the pubic safety minister who recently joined him at dinner with Trump at Mar-a-Lago, to replace Freeland. Freeland did not make that trip.
After being sworn in, LeBlanc told reporters he and Trudeau are focused on the cost of living facing Canadians and on finding common ground with Trump on border security and economic issues.
"It's not been an easy day," Trudeau later told a room of party supporters. He called it one of his party's “toughest days" but he did not say what he planned to do.
Jagmeet Singh, leader of the opposition New Democratic Party which Trudeau’s ruling Liberals have relied upon to stay in power, called for him to resign earlier Monday.
“He has to go,” NDP leader Singh said.
The main opposition Conservatives have not called for Trudeau’s resignation but demand an election.
But a no confidence vote in the government is not imminent with Parliament about to break for the holidays .
Freeland, who was also deputy prime minister, said Trudeau had told her on Friday he no longer wanted her to serve as finance minister and offered her another role in the Cabinet. But she said in her resignation letter that the only “honest and viable path” was to leave the Cabinet.
“For the past number of weeks, you and I have found ourselves at odds about the best path forward for Canada,” Freeland said.
Freeland and Trudeau disagreed about a two-month sales tax holiday and 250 Canadian dollar ($175) checks to Canadians that were recently announced. Freeland said Canada is dealing with Trump's threat to impose sweeping 25% tariffs and should eschew “costly political gimmicks" it can “ill afford.”
“Our country is facing a grave challenge,” Freeland said in her letter. “That means keeping our fiscal powder dry today, so we have the reserves we may need for a coming tariff war.”
A Liberal party official said Freeland was offered a position as minister in charge of Canada-U.S. relations without portfolio and without a department. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of not being authorized to speak publicly on the matter, said the position would have been in name only and wouldn't have come with any of the tools Freeland previously had when she negotiated the trade with the United States.
Freeland, who chaired a Cabinet committee on U.S. relations, had been set to deliver the fall economic statement and likely announce border security measures designed to help Canada avoid Trump's tariffs. Trump has threatened to impose a 25% tax on all products entering the U.S. from Canada and Mexico unless the neighbors stem the numbers of migrants and drugs.
The statement shows a much larger deficit than expected for the fiscal year and more than a billion for border security.
Trudeau has said he plans on leading the Liberal Party into the next election, but many party members have said they don't want him to run for a fourth term, and Freeland's departure was a huge blow.
Trudeau met with his lawmakers on Monday evening. Later, most of them brushed past reporters, declining to say what was said in the meeting.
Liberal lawmaker Chad Collins said they were “not united."
"There’s still a number of our members that want a change in leadership. I’m one of them,” he said. “I think the only path forward for us is to choose a new leader.”
No Canadian prime minister in more than a century has won four straight terms.
The federal election has to be held before October. The Liberals must rely on the support of at least one other major party in Parliament, because they don’t hold an outright majority themselves. If NDP pulls support, an election can be held at any time.
Singh said all options are on the table.
Trudeau channeled the star power of his father, late Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau, in 2015, when he reasserted the country’s liberal identity after almost a decade of Conservative Party rule.
But Canadians are now frustrated by the rising cost of living and other issues, including immigration increases following the country’s emergence from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Justin Trudeau’s legacy includes opening the doors wide to immigration. He also legalized cannabis and brought in a carbon tax intended to fight climate change.
Freeland also said in her letter that Canadians “know when we are working for them, and they equally know when we are focused on ourselves. Inevitably, our time in government will come to an end."
Separately, Trudeau has been trying to recruit Mark Carney, the former head of the Bank of England and Bank of Canada, to join his government. Carney has long been interested in entering politics and becoming the leader of the Liberal Party. LeBlanc's appointment to finance suggests that won't happen.
Daniel Béland, a political science professor at McGill University in Montreal, called Freeland's resignation a political earthquake.
“This is clearly a minority government on life support but, until now, the (opposition) NDP has rejected calls to pull the plug on it," Béland said. "It’s hard to know whether this resignation will force the NDP to rethink its strategy.”
Canada's Minister of Export Promotion, International Trade and Economic Development Mary Ng arrives for a national caucus meeting, in Ottawa, Ontario, Monday, Dec. 16, 2024. (Spencer Colby/The Canadian Press via AP)
Canada's Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry Francois-Philippe Champagne arrives for a national caucus meeting, in Ottawa, Ontario, Monday, Dec. 16, 2024. (Spencer Colby/The Canadian Press via AP)
Canada's Minister of Environment and Climate Change Steven Guilbeault arrives for a national caucus meeting, in Ottawa, Ontario, Monday, Dec. 16, 2024. (Spencer Colby/The Canadian Press via AP)
Chrystia Freeland, who today stepped down as finance minister and deputy prime minister, arrives for a national caucus meeting, in Ottawa, Ontario, Monday, Dec. 16, 2024. (Spencer Colby/The Canadian Press via AP)
Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Gov. Gen. Mary Simon look on at the start of a cabinet swearing in ceremony for Dominic LeBlanc, not shown, who will be sworn in as Finance Minister, at Rideau Hall in Ottawa, Ontario, Monday, Dec. 16, 2024. (Justin Tang/The Canadian Press via AP)
Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau looks on at the start of a cabinet swearing in ceremony for Dominic LeBlanc, not shown, who will be sworn in as Finance Minister, at Rideau Hall in Ottawa, Ontario, Monday, Dec. 16, 2024. (Justin Tang/The Canadian Press via AP)
Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, left, looks on as Dominic LeBlanc, centre, is sworn in as Finance Minister by Clerk of the Privy Council John Hannaford, right, during a ceremony at Rideau Hall in Ottawa, Ontario, Monday, Dec. 16, 2024. (Justin Tang/The Canadian Press via AP)
Sean Fraser, who today stepped down as minister of housing, arrives for a national caucus meeting, in Ottawa, Ontario, Monday, Dec. 16, 2024. (Spencer Colby/The Canadian Press via AP)
Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau participates in a ceremony as Dominic LeBlanc, not shown, is sworn in as Finance Minister, at Rideau Hall in Ottawa, Ontario, Monday, Dec. 16, 2024. (Justin Tang/The Canadian Press via AP)
Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau makes his way way his new Finance Minister, Dominic LeBlanc to a national caucus meeting, in Ottawa, Ontario, Monday, Dec. 16, 2024. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press via AP)
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau makes his to a national caucus meeting, in Ottawa, Ontario, Monday, Dec. 16, 2024. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press via AP)
Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Gov. Gen. Mary Simon depart after Dominic LeBlanc, not shown, was sworn in as Finance Minister during a ceremony at Rideau Hall in Ottawa, Ontario, Monday, Dec. 16, 2024. (Justin Tang/The Canadian Press via AP)
Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is pictured through glass as he speaks with members of his caucus in Ottawa, Ontario, on Monday, Dec. 16, 2024. (Spencer Colby/The Canadian Press via AP)
Dominic LeBlanc is sworn in as Minister of Finance by Clerk of the Privy Council John Hannaford, centre, as Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Gov. Gen. Mary Simon look on, during a ceremony at Rideau Hall in Ottawa, Ontario, Monday, Dec. 16, 2024. (Justin Tang/The Canadian Press via AP)
Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau participates in a signing after Dominic LeBlanc, not shown, was sworn in as Finance Minister at a ceremony at Rideau Hall in Ottawa, Ontario, Monday, Dec. 16, 2024. (Justin Tang/The Canadian Press via AP)
Dominic LeBlanc, Canada's Minister of Finance, Public Safety and Intergovernmental Affairs, participates in a news conference after a swearing in ceremony at Rideau Hall, in Ottawa, Ontario, Monday, Dec. 16, 2024. (Justin Tang/The Canadian Press via AP)
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, left, looks on as Dominic LeBlanc, center, is sworn in as finance minister by Clerk of the Privy Council John Hannaford, right, during a ceremony at Rideau Hall in Ottawa, Ontario, Monday, Dec. 16, 2024. (Justin Tang/The Canadian Press via AP)
Dominic LeBlanc, front left, is sworn in as finance minister by Clerk of the Privy Council John Hannaford, right, during a ceremony at Rideau Hall in Ottawa, Ontario, Monday, Dec. 16, 2024. (Justin Tang/The Canadian Press via AP)
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, right, congratulates Dominic LeBlanc, left, after LeBlanc was sworn in as finance minister at a ceremony at Rideau Hall in Ottawa, Ontario, Monday, Dec. 16, 2024. (Justin Tang/The Canadian Press via AP)
Minister of Finance and Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland, right, and Minister of Public Safety, Democratic Institutions and Intergovernmental Affairs Dominic LeBlanc arrive for a press conference on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Ontario, Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024. (Spencer Colby/The Canadian Press via AP)
Minister of Finance and Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland delivers remarks on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Ontario, Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024. (Spencer Colby/The Canadian Press via AP)
Minister of Finance and Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland delivers remarks on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Ontario, Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024. (Spencer Colby/The Canadian Press via AP)
