by Chuck Sommers
Friday, Feb 24, 2023
Time: 1 p.m. ET
Venue: Capital One Arena, Washington, DC
Where to watch: ABC, ESPN+
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Caesars: Check back later for odds.
Season record
Rangers: 33-16-9
Capitals: 28-26-6
The All-Star break is over, the second half of the NHL season can officially begin, and we're bound for what should be a very exciting second half of the hockey season. Basketball and hockey are about to rule the roost in the sports betting world once the Super Bowl is done with, and we should all be very excited for what's to come. When the trade deadline hits and players switch teams, you know things are about to get hectic over these final 30 games or so. One way you can stay tuned with the action is following what our champion handicappers are doing in the world of the NHL. Look at ASA, Inc., reeling in a $6,750 profit off a 17-9-0 run. Al McMordie is also doing well on the ice with a 13-5-0 run and a net profit of $6,050. Scott Rickenbach has also been hanging strong with a lot of betting action, in what's been an unusual year, with a 24-18-0 run and reeling in $5,950. You know this action is going to be great now that games are back and a busy second half if on the horizon. All you need to do is head to our BEST BETS page at bigal.com to find out all of what we're trying to tell you. Make sure you're locked in at bigal.com and go to our Best Bets page to find out what our champion handicappers have to say in the world of the NHL!
Rangers - Capitals preview, prediction and analysis
The New York Rangers will be playing the Washington Capitals on Friday, February 24 in Washington.
The New York Rangers lost against the Detroit Red Wings on Thursday, February 23 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan with a score of 4-1. The New York Rangers currently rank 3rd in the Metropolitan Division.
Vincent Trocheck scored, and Jaroslav Halak made 19 saves for the Rangers (33-16-9), who have lost three in a row (0-2-1) after a seven-game winning streak.
New York had its road point streak end at 10 (6-0-4), one shy of its record set in 1939-40.
"In this league, we don't have any time to feel sorry for ourselves," Rangers forward Jimmy Vesey said. "We've got a game against Washington on Saturday, and that's a tough team with a lot of skill. We have to be ready to play."
The Red Wings took a 1-0 lead at 15:33 of the first period when Andrew Copp tipped in Michael Rasmussen's pass from the edge of the crease.
Trocheck tied it 1-1 at 6:06 of the second period, taking advantage of a Robert Hagg turnover to score from the slot.
Dylan Larkin stole the puck at the Rangers blue line and set up Filip Zadina to make it 2-1 at 8:18. Larkin has 14 points (seven goals, seven assists) in his past nine games.
New York nearly tied it at 17:09, but Husso kicked out his left skate to rob Adam Fox.
Detroit scored three more goals to make the final score 4-1.
"We didn't play hard enough as a group," Rangers coach Gerard Gallant said. "If you're going to win in this league, everyone has to show up. We didn't do that. We didn't play hard enough or well enough.”
The New York Rangers have won seven of their last 10 games.
The Washington Capitals lost against the Anaheim Ducks on Thursday, February 23 at Capital One Arena in Washington with a score of 4-2. The Washington Capitals currently rank 6th in the Metropolitan Division.
T.J. Oshie and Nick Jensen scored, and Charlie Lindgren made 17 saves for the Capitals (28-26-6).
"I thought we did a lot of good things, especially that second half of the second period into the third, we did a lot, generated a lot," Washington defenseman Trevor van Riemsdyk said. "This time of year, it's about getting results, not necessarily how you play."
Oshie gave Washington a 1-0 lead at 11:41 of the first period when he deflected Erik Gustafsson's shot in the slot during a power play. It was the Capitals' first lead in six games.
Isac Lundestrom tied it 1-1 on a breakaway at 7:09 of the second period, deking to his left before going right and lifting a backhand over Lindgren's left pad.
Jensen gave the Capitals a 2-1 lead at 9:07, taking a pass from Nic Dowd at the point and skating through the left face-off circle before cutting to the net and scoring.
Anaheim tied it 2-2 at 9:51 when Terry's shot hit the crossbar, fell behind Lindgren and rolled across the goal line during a scramble.
"I would've liked to have seen us get the next goal," Capitals coach Peter Laviolette said of taking that 2-1 lead. "The goal after that and put some distance [between us], and we couldn't get that done. They scored quick to tie it back 2-2 and that lead didn't last very long."
Prior to the game, the Capitals traded defenseman Dmitry Orlov and forward Garnet Hathaway to the Boston Bruins in a three-team deal that included the Minnesota Wild. Washington received forward Craig Smith, a first-round pick in the 2023 Upper Deck NHL Draft, a third-round selection in the 2024 NHL Draft and a second-round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft.
The Washington Capitals have won three of their last 10 games.
Prediction
The Capitals might not be in rebuild mode yet, but it does seem like it, huh? Rangers 4, Capitals 2
The New York Rangers lost against the Detroit Red Wings on Thursday, February 23 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan with a score of 4-1. The New York Rangers currently rank 3rd in the Metropolitan Division.
Vincent Trocheck scored, and Jaroslav Halak made 19 saves for the Rangers (33-16-9), who have lost three in a row (0-2-1) after a seven-game winning streak.
New York had its road point streak end at 10 (6-0-4), one shy of its record set in 1939-40.
"In this league, we don't have any time to feel sorry for ourselves," Rangers forward Jimmy Vesey said. "We've got a game against Washington on Saturday, and that's a tough team with a lot of skill. We have to be ready to play."
The Red Wings took a 1-0 lead at 15:33 of the first period when Andrew Copp tipped in Michael Rasmussen's pass from the edge of the crease.
Trocheck tied it 1-1 at 6:06 of the second period, taking advantage of a Robert Hagg turnover to score from the slot.
Dylan Larkin stole the puck at the Rangers blue line and set up Filip Zadina to make it 2-1 at 8:18. Larkin has 14 points (seven goals, seven assists) in his past nine games.
New York nearly tied it at 17:09, but Husso kicked out his left skate to rob Adam Fox.
Detroit scored three more goals to make the final score 4-1.
"We didn't play hard enough as a group," Rangers coach Gerard Gallant said. "If you're going to win in this league, everyone has to show up. We didn't do that. We didn't play hard enough or well enough.”
The New York Rangers have won seven of their last 10 games.
The Washington Capitals lost against the Anaheim Ducks on Thursday, February 23 at Capital One Arena in Washington with a score of 4-2. The Washington Capitals currently rank 6th in the Metropolitan Division.
T.J. Oshie and Nick Jensen scored, and Charlie Lindgren made 17 saves for the Capitals (28-26-6).
"I thought we did a lot of good things, especially that second half of the second period into the third, we did a lot, generated a lot," Washington defenseman Trevor van Riemsdyk said. "This time of year, it's about getting results, not necessarily how you play."
Oshie gave Washington a 1-0 lead at 11:41 of the first period when he deflected Erik Gustafsson's shot in the slot during a power play. It was the Capitals' first lead in six games.
Isac Lundestrom tied it 1-1 on a breakaway at 7:09 of the second period, deking to his left before going right and lifting a backhand over Lindgren's left pad.
Jensen gave the Capitals a 2-1 lead at 9:07, taking a pass from Nic Dowd at the point and skating through the left face-off circle before cutting to the net and scoring.
Anaheim tied it 2-2 at 9:51 when Terry's shot hit the crossbar, fell behind Lindgren and rolled across the goal line during a scramble.
"I would've liked to have seen us get the next goal," Capitals coach Peter Laviolette said of taking that 2-1 lead. "The goal after that and put some distance [between us], and we couldn't get that done. They scored quick to tie it back 2-2 and that lead didn't last very long."
Prior to the game, the Capitals traded defenseman Dmitry Orlov and forward Garnet Hathaway to the Boston Bruins in a three-team deal that included the Minnesota Wild. Washington received forward Craig Smith, a first-round pick in the 2023 Upper Deck NHL Draft, a third-round selection in the 2024 NHL Draft and a second-round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft.
The Washington Capitals have won three of their last 10 games.
Prediction
The Capitals might not be in rebuild mode yet, but it does seem like it, huh? Rangers 4, Capitals 2
Betting trends
Check back later for trends.
Projected lines
Rangers:
Chris Kreider -- Mika Zibanejad -- Jimmy Vesey
Artemi Panarin -- Vincent Trocheck -- Vladimir Tarasenko
Alexis Lafreniere -- Filip Chytil -- Kaapo Kakko
Tyler Motte -- Jake Leschyshyn -- Barclay Goodrow
Ryan Lindgren -- Adam Fox
K'Andre Miller -- Jacob Trouba
Niko Mikkola -- Braden Schneider
Igor Shesterkin
Chris Kreider -- Mika Zibanejad -- Jimmy Vesey
Artemi Panarin -- Vincent Trocheck -- Vladimir Tarasenko
Alexis Lafreniere -- Filip Chytil -- Kaapo Kakko
Tyler Motte -- Jake Leschyshyn -- Barclay Goodrow
Ryan Lindgren -- Adam Fox
K'Andre Miller -- Jacob Trouba
Niko Mikkola -- Braden Schneider
Igor Shesterkin
Capitals:
Alex Ovechkin -- Evgeny Kuznetsov -- Tom Wilson
Conor Sheary -- Nicklas Backstrom -- Marcus Johansson
Sonny Milano -- Dylan Strome -- T.J. Oshie
Lars Eller -- Nic Dowd -- Garnet Hathaway
Dmitry Orlov -- Trevor van Riemsdyk
Martin Fehervary -- Nick Jensen
Erik Gustafsson -- Dylan McIlrath
Darcy Kuemper
Alex Ovechkin -- Evgeny Kuznetsov -- Tom Wilson
Conor Sheary -- Nicklas Backstrom -- Marcus Johansson
Sonny Milano -- Dylan Strome -- T.J. Oshie
Lars Eller -- Nic Dowd -- Garnet Hathaway
Dmitry Orlov -- Trevor van Riemsdyk
Martin Fehervary -- Nick Jensen
Erik Gustafsson -- Dylan McIlrath
Darcy Kuemper
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Chuck Sommers
About the Author:
Chuck Sommers has camped outside of sportsbooks since he can remember, learning the tricks and nuances of the trade. He still has nightmares of betting $5,000 on the Raiders in the Tuck Rule game but has since turned that to 25 years of veteran handicapping greatness. You can find him mostly in the shadows at the Red Rock or Aliante casinos wondering if the over is cashing on any given Sunday.
