Eastern Conference-Leading Rangers Favored Against Visitings Capitals
The Capitals-Rangers Preview Is Favoring the Host Rangers To Even The Season Series
Both the Capitals and Rangers Will Be Missing Some Key Forwards
The Washington Capitals look to close the gap on the Metropolitan Division-leading New York Rangers when the teams meet for the second time this season. When looking at the Capitals-Rangers preview, the NHL betting lines favor the host Rangers.
The Rangers have the most points among Eastern Conference teams, while Washington is sitting in fourth place in the Metropolitan Division when looking at the NHL playoff standings at the current time.
When looking at the NHL odds, Washington is priced at +180 to win the game outright compared to -220 odds for the favored Rangers.
Washington is 8-5-2 on the road this season, while The 11 home wins by the Rangers are the most among the Eastern Conference teams.
Washington forwards Nicklas Backstrom, Sonny Milano, T.J. Oshie and Max Pacioretty are all on injured reserve.
For New York, forwards Filip Chytil and Kaapo Kakko are out.
Regarding the NHL odds, the Rangers are tied for third at +900 in the odds of winning the Stanley Cup title, with Washington well back at +10000 in the championship odds.
Rangers vs Capitals 
Day/Time:
Location: Madison Square Garden, New York
Streaming: ESPN+
Slumping Ovechkin Getting Some Help
With Alexander Ovechkin having just one goal in the first 11 games in December and multiple veteran forwards sidelined, the offense has needed to come from different hockey players.
Anthony Mantha has three goals in the last two games as he is tied with Dylan Strome for the team lead with five goals in December.
Ovechkin hasn’t scored an even-strength goal in his last 16 games. Over the last 11 games, Mantha leads the Capitals with four even-strength goals followed by Strome with three and Tom Wilson has scored twice at even strength. That could factor into the Capitals-Rangers preview.
The total has gone under in each of Washington’s last five games.
Rangers Turning On The Power
The Rangers lead the NHL by converting on 34.2% of their power-play opportunities during December as they continue to score with more frequency than the Rangers. Keep that in mind when it comes to the Capitals-Rangers preview.
Zibanejad and Artemi Panarin each have scored four times with the man advantage with Zibanejad, Panarin, and defenseman Adam Fox having combined for 24 points on the power play over the last 11 games.
The only game when New York failed to score on the power play during that stretch came against Washington, as the Rangers only had one power play opportunity.
The total has gone over in the four of the last six NHL games played by the Rangers.
Last Meeting
The last time the teams met, Washington scored three times in the second period, and Charlie Lindgren had 31 saves as Washington topped the visiting Rangers 4-0.
That ended a streak of three straight games between the teams to finish over the total.
The home team has won three of the last four meetings between the teams.
The Capitals scored nine goals in the 15 games against the Rangers last NHL season and the players who accounted for nine of those goals are either injured or on other teams.
Zibanejad led the Rangers with three goals against the Capitals last season, while Panarin and Vincent Trocheck each had four assists.
Capitals vs Rangers Betting Preview
Washington is 31st in the NHL in goals per game and in the bottom five in shots, power plays, and power play percentage, so it is only fair to wonder if the Capitals can hang with the Rangers if this game opens up.
New York’s Zibanejad has eight goals in December. Only Toronto’s Auston Matthews and Nathan MacKinnon of the Colorado Avalanche have scored more often.
The Rangers have won seven of the last 10 home games against the Capitals.
The total has gone over in seven of the last nine games for the Rangers coming off a win. Eight of Washington’s last 12 games finished under the total. The total for this game is set at 6.
The Rangers have won their last five games against NHL teams with winning records.
When making the NHL score prediction, remember that the Rangers are 18-7 this season when listed as the favorite. The Capitals are 8-12-4 when coming into a game as the underdog.
The Rangers are just 5-10 against the spread at home this season.
Washington has won eight of its last nine games against Metropolitan Division teams.
It is hard to pick against the Rangers in this game. The question is whether the Capitals can cover by keeping within one goal of the conference-leading Rangers.
For NHL betting news, odds analysis, and more, visit Point Spreads Sports Magazine.
