Washington Capitals vs. New York Rangers Prediction, NHL Odds
The lone game on Sunday’s NHL schedule has Alex Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals in New York to face the Rangers on Broadway.
These Metropolitan Division rivals will meet for the first time this season, both fresh off road wins on Saturday. This will be both teams’ first back-to-back of the season as they look for some separation at the top of the Divisional standings.
The NHL odds have this one as a pick ‘em with both teams set at -110 and the total set at 6.0 goals. Puck drop from the iconic Madison Square Garden is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET.
Capitals vs. Rangers NHL Betting Odds
In three meetings last year, the Caps went a perfect 3-0 versus the Rangers, outscoring them 15-9, while covering the spread twice. The three-game set featured a 2-1 record on the OVER/UNDER. Alex Ovechkin potted a pair in the series opener and scored in all three games, putting his career total to 46 goals in 76 games against the Rags.
The reigning division champs, Washington and New York, are tied for third with the best odds to win the Metro Division this season, sitting at +750, behind the Carolina Hurricanes and the New Jersey Devils on the NHL futures board.
Washington has a 1-1 record, is 1-1 against the spread and 1-1 on the OVER/UNDER. They got their first win of the season Saturday in Long Island, 4-2 over the New York Islanders. Rookie Ryan Leonard netted his goal of the season. He is paying +1500 to win the Calder Trophy this season, good for fifth on our NHL futures board.
The Rangers come into Sunday’s game on a two-game win streak, pushing their record to 2-1. They hit OVER on Saturday for the first time, pummelling the Pittsburgh Penguins 6-1, helping them cover in both wins. They have been locked in on defence during their win streak, giving up just one goal. Adam Fox is the third-favourite for the Norris Trophy this season at +800. The former Norris winner currently leads the team with four points (3G, 1A).
Washington Capitals
After losing their season opener at home to the Boston Bruins, the Capitals bounced back on Saturday, winning 4-2 over the Islanders. Washington got the ball rolling early on, netting its first goal of the night just 1:50 into the game. They jumped to a 4-0 lead near the end of the second, before the Isles got on the board with a power-play marker. New York added another on the man-advantage in the third, but goalie Logan Thompson slammed the door in the final minutes to secure the win.
Aliaksei Protas was Washington’s best player in this one, scoring a pair of goals and adding an assist for a three-point night. The young Russian broke out with 30 goals last year and could lead the Caps in goals this season.
An early point of concern for the Capitals has been their penalty killing, which sits at 40 per cent, currently second-worst in the league.
Goalie Logan Thompson likely rides the pine on Sunday, giving Charlie Lindgren his first start of the season. The tandem split duties last season, and Lindgren went 20-14-3 with a 2.73 goals-against-average and a save percentage just below .900.
New York Rangers
New York and their new head coach, Mike Sullivan, returned to Pittsburgh last night after he spent 10 seasons with the Penguins. The Rangers showed up for their coach, giving the Penguins a 6-1 beating in their own barn.
Mika Zibanejad got the offence going with a shorthanded goal in the first period, but the Pens tied things up early in the second. The floodgates opened just after that, with the Rangers netting three more in the second, part of five unanswered to end the game.
Adam Fox had his best game of the young season, netting a pair of goals plus an assist for a three-point game. He had a down year last season with 61 points after three consecutive seasons with over 70. If he can keep producing all season, he could be the reason the Rangers get back into the postseason.
With Igor Shesterkin starting all three games so far for New York, expect 39-year-old Johnathan Quick to be between the pipes on Sunday for his first game of the campaign. The three-time cup champ is still a solid netminder and will be looking to improve his subpar numbers from last season.
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