Two clubs facing each other for the first time this year, the New York Rangers and the Washington Capitals take the ice at Capital One Arena in a divisional showdown. This one will get underway at 7 p.m. ET on Wednesday, October 17 and it is being shown live on NBC Sports Network.
New York Rangers vs. Washington Capitals Odds
Losing -1.1 units for moneyline bettors, Washington is 2-3 straight up (SU) overall in the 2018-19 season. That early-season winning percentage is a big slide from what the team managed during last year’s regular season (49-33). Through five regular season contests, three of its games have gone over the total, while two have gone under and none have pushed. The team is 2-1 SU at home thus far.
The Capitals have successfully found the net on 36.8 percent of their power play opportunities in 2018-19. That’s a noticeable improvement from last season, when they were ranked fifth in the league by scoring on 24.1 percent of their extra-man opportunities. Their penalty kill has fallen off significantly year-over-year as they’ve gone from successfully defending 79.4 percent of opponents’ power plays (ranked 19th overall last season) to 77.8 percent this year.
The Capitals, as a collective unit, have been penalized 4.2 times per game this season. Last year, that number was at 4.0, the mark in the league. After serving an average of 9.5 penalty minutes per game a year ago, the team has had to kill penalties for 9.6 minutes per matchup this season.
Averaging 28.0 saves per game with a .896 save percentage, Braden Holtby (2-2-1) has been the best option in goal for Washington this season. If Washington decides to rest him, however, the team could turn to Pheonix Copley (0-1-1 record, .833 save percentage, 6.03 goals against average).
Evgeny Kuznetsov and Nicklas Backstrom will each be focal points for the Capitals. Kuznetsov (nine points) has tallied four goals and five assists while Backstrom has one goal and six assists to his credit so far in the early stages of the season.
On the other hand, New York is 2-4 straight up (SU) and has lost 2.8 units for moneyline bettors this year. A total of four of its games have gone under the total, while one has gone over and none have pushed. The Rangers are 0-2 SU as the visiting team this season.
The Broadway Blueshirts have scored on 11.1 percent of their power play chances this year after converting on 21.2 percent of their extra-man opportunities last season (a percentage that was just better than the league average). The team’s gone from killing off 81.4 percent of opponent power plays (ranked eighth overall last season) to 73.7 percent in 2018-19.
New York’s players have been penalized 4.7 times per game this season, a number that has risen some from the 3.5 penalties per game given up last year. After serving an average of 8.0 penalty minutes per game a season ago the team’s had to stave off opponent power plays for 10.3 minutes per outing this year.
Henrik Lundqvist (30.6 saves per game) has been the primary choice in the net for New York. Lundqvist has two wins and three losses to his credit, and has registered a .939 save percentage and 1.99 goals against average this year.
Mats Zuccarello (zero goals, five assists) has been one of the most vital offensive facilitators for the visiting Rangers.
New York Rangers vs. Washington Capitals Betting Predictions
Prediction: SU Winner – Capitals, O/U – Over
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Notes
Betting Notes
After posting a 3-5 record in games decided by a shootout last year, New York is off to a 1-0 start in shootouts this season. Washington was 3-1 in shootouts last year and has yet to participate in one this time around.
The over has hit in three of Washington’s last five outings.
New York has yet to win a game by two more more goals this season.
New York skaters recorded 20.9 hits per game last season, while the Capitals logged 24.2 hits per matchup.
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