Tuesday evening brings a very intriguing Metropolitan Division matchup between a team still battling for a Wild Card spot and a team comfortably in the playoff race as the Washington Capitals head to the Big Apple to face the New York Rangers. The puck drops at 7 PM ET at Madison Square Garden. DC is coming off a 5-1 thrashing of the NY Islanders on Saturday, ending a two-game skid in the process. The Rangers meanwhile lost to Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins 3-2 on Sunday in overtime thanks to Kris Letang's winner. Given this is a divisional clash, there will be no shortage of entertainment. Find the Capitals vs Rangers picks below.
Before we get into the odds and predictions for this game make sure to check out our online sportsbook reviews, and the top NHL betting sites.
Capitals vs Rangers Odds
The Rangers are the favorite with -165 moneyline odds, while the Caps come back at +149. The total is set at six goals. Washington has actually won back-to-back games against New York, outscoring them 10-3 in the process. That includes a 6-3 victory in late February.
Washington vs New York Preview
The Capitals are in the midst of a respectable season, sitting at 32-28-7. That puts them five points back of the final Wild Card berth in the East at the moment. A 4-5-1 record isn't exactly helping their case, but Washington's big win over the Isles was a definite step in the right direction. After all, that's the team they're chasing in the Wild Card. Five different players found the back of the net in this matchup, including Dylan Strome and Nicklas Backstrom. Alex Ovechkin didn't score but he did tally an assist. Regardless, Ovi still leads the squad with 36 goals and 26 assists. It was actually refreshing to see others step up and do the heavy lifting for once instead of relying on the Russian superstar, who is still lighting it up after all of these years.
The Rangers flexed their muscle at the trade deadline and made it clear they're here to contend, acquiring Patrick Kane from the Chicago Blackhawks in a blockbuster deal. Although Kane is past his prime, he's still a very productive player and has already made his presence felt, scoring twice in five outings with his new team. But, New York isn't exactly playing all that great as of late, going 4-5-1 in the last 10, including a heartbreaking defeat to the Pens. Jaroslav Halak made 35 saves in between the posts, with Letang beating him in OT with a rocket of a shot. Barclay Goodrow and Chris Kreider scored for the Rangers. Gerard Gallant's squad really needs to pick it up quickly or else the Metropolitan Division is going to fall out of reach. That starts with finding a much-needed win against the Caps, who have dominated them in recent memory. NY does have a 17-11-4 record at home, which is a positive sign for Tuesday's encounter. Plus, they did win two in a row before the Penguins loss.
Capitals vs Rangers Picks
The Rangers have won just four of the previous 10 meetings with the Capitals. Not great, but I do think they bounce back here. This is the beginning of a five-game homestand with numerous tough teams up next, including Pittsburgh and Carolina. I figure New York gets started on the right foot and beats Washington, setting the tone for their upcoming matchups.
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