The New York Rangers (33-16-9) play the final match of a 2-game road trip against the Washington Capitals (28-26-6) Saturday at Capital One Arena. Puck drop is scheduled for 1 p.m. (ABC/ESPN+). Below, we analyze Tipico Sportsbook’s lines around the Rangers vs. Capitals odds, and make our expert NHL picks and predictions.
The Rangers added Vladimir Tarasenko from the St. Louis Blues in a trade earlier in the month for added offense, but New York is still struggling to score goals. It has just 4 total scores in the past 3 games, going 0-2-1 during the skid with 3 straight Under results.
The Capitals welcomed back superstar Alex Ovechkin to the lineup, as he had been away for a few games to mourn the death of his father in Russia. He was scoreless with a minus-2 against Anaheim Thursday in a 4-2 loss as the Caps kept skidding.
Washington has dropped 6 straight games, averaging just 1.7 goals per game (GPG) during the span. The Caps are getting healthier, and/or getting players back on the ice after personal reasons away, but it isn’t resulting in wins. The Caps are on the outside of the wild-card picture in the Eastern Conference.
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Rangers at Capitals odds
Provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated 8:15 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Rangers -145 (bet $145 to win $100) | Capitals +125 (bet $100 to win $125)
- Puck line (PL)/Against the spread (ATS): Rangers -1.5 (+165) | Capitals +1.5 (-200)
- Over/Under (O/U): 5.5 (O: -130 | U: +110)
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Rangers at Capitals projected goalies
Igor Shesterkin (25-9-7, 2.59 GAA, .912 SV%, 1 SO) vs. Darcy Kuemper (16-18-4, 2.68 GAA, .913 SV%, 5 SO)
Shesterkin allowed 4 goals on just 21 shots in a 4-1 home loss against the Winnipeg Jets, snapping a personal 4-game winning streak, and a 6-game unbeaten streak in regulation. Still, in February, he has a 4-1-0 record, but a rather mediocre 3.54 GAA and .865 SV%.
Kuemper allowed 3 goals on 25 shots in a 3-1 home loss against the Detroit Red Wings last time out Tuesday. He is just 1-4-0 with a 3.07 GAA and .901 SV% in 5 February starts, and the offensive support hasn’t been great, either. The Caps have provided him with just 17 total goals of support across the previous 9 outings.
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Rangers at Capitals picks and predictions
Prediction
Rangers 4, Capitals 2
Moneyline
The RANGERS (-145) are moderate favorites on the road, which is rather surprising considering they’re just 2-9 in the past 11 visits to the nation’s capital.
Still, you have to fade the Capitals (+125) until they start to snap out of their funk. This team has dropped 6 in a row, while showing no signs of picking up the pace offensively.
To make matters worse, the team just traded Dmitry Orlov and Garnet Hathaway to the Boston Bruins this week, a sign the team might be throwing in the towel on the season, losing plenty of sandpaper and veteran leadership in the process.
Puck line/Against the spread
The RANGERS -1.5 (+165) are a bit of a risky play, as they’ve had issues lighting the lamp themselves lately. But all of the tools are there for a rebound.
And this team is 4-1 in the past 5 games when playing on a day of rest, and despite going 0-2-1 in the past 3 games, New York has still won 7 of its past 10 games overall.
Over/Under
The OVER 5.5 (-130) definitely is a leap of faith, since both teams have been struggling offensively.
However, New York has cashed the Over in 8 of the past 11 games inside the Metropolitan Division, while going 5-1 in the past 6 Saturday games, for whatever that’s worth.
It’s a steady diet of Under results for Washington lately, so go lightly on the total. Still, eventually Washington has to snap out of its nosedive eventually, and the fact it traded 2 defensive-minded players this week might open things up more for the Rangers, too.
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