Washington Capitals vs New York Rangers Prediction, Preview and Odds - 12/27/2023

Game Time: 7:00 pm ET, Wednesday, December 27, 2023

Venue:  Madison Square Garden, New York, NY 

Where to Watch:  ESPN+

DraftKings:  Moneyline:  Capitals +180, Rangers -218; Over/Under:  6 goals

Bet365:  Moneyline:  Capitals +180, Rangers -225; Over/Under:  6 goals

BetMGM:  Moneyline:  Capitals +180, Rangers -225; Over/Under:  6 goals

Washington Capitals:  17-9-5 (4th place, Metropolitan Division)

New York Rangers:  23-8-1 (1st place, Metropolitan Division)

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Washington Capitals:  5-2-3 last 10

New York Rangers:  6-4-0 last 10

The Capitals are entering this game with 39 points, a 17-9-5 record overall, and they are 8-5-2 in their road games this season where they will be in this game. They are entering this game off a loss against the Tampa Bay Lightning in their last game, losing that one at home 2-1 in a shootout. Anthony Mantha scored 1 goal for them in that game. Nick Jensen and Aliaksei Protas each led the team in assists with 1 while Tom Wilson led the team in shots on net in that game with 5. Charlie Lindgren was the starting goalie in that game and he allowed 1 goal on 20 shots with 19 saves and a .950 save percentage. Their offense has scored 77 goals this season averaging 2.5 goals per game and their defense has allowed their opponents to score 86 goals against them allowing 2.8 goals per game.

The Rangers are entering this game with 47 points, a 23-8-1 record overall, and they are 11-4-0 in their home games this regular season where they will be in this game. They are entering this game off a win against the Buffalo Sabres in their last game, winning that one at home 4-3 in overtime. Mika Zibanejad, Chris Kreider, Ryan Lindgren, and Artemi Panarin each scored 1 goal for them in that game. Mika Zibanejad led the team in assists with 2 while Artemi Panarin and Tyler Pitlick each led the team in shots on net in that game with 5. Igor Shesterkin was the starting goalie in that game and he allowed 3 goals on 30 shots with 27 saves and a .900 sv percentage. Their offense has scored 108 goals this season averaging 3.4 goals per game and their defense has allowed their opponents to score 89 goals against them allowing 2.8 goals per game.

The current betting odds have the Rangers listed as a big favorite in this game according to Draftkings Sportsbook. The Rangers have looked really good this season with their 23-8-1 record overall which has them near the top of their division in the East. They have also looked really good on home ice with their 11-4-0 home record. Meanwhile, the Capitals have also looked good with their 17-9-5 record overall and they have been playing a lot better lately as they are slowly climbing the standings. They haven't looked great in their road games though with their 8-5-2 road record and they also have one of the weakest offenses in the NHL this year with the goals they have been scoring. They do have one of the best defenses as they don't give up many goals, but the Rangers are starting to get hot themselves now and they will be looking to propel themselves here on home ice with a big win in their 1st game back from the break. The Rangers have looked a lot better on home ice all season and they have a lot more scoring power in their offense too. The best way to place a bet here is on the Rangers to win this game. 

Capitals Rangers Prediction:  Our NHL Pick for Wednesday, December 27, 2023 (7:00 pm ET start time) is Rangers 5 Capitals 2.

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Washington Capitals: 98-103 (-22.2 units) on the moneyline in all games. 19-18 (-6.6 units) on the moneyline after playing a game where 4 or fewer total goals were scored. 21-9 UNDER in all games. 9-3 UNDER vs. division opponents. 13-7 UNDER after 1 or more consecutive unders.

New York Rangers: 133-87 (+18.5 units) on the moneyline in all games. 29-14 (+12 units) on the moneyline revenging a road loss versus opponent. 31-14 UNDER off an home win scoring 4 or more goals. 14-6 UNDER after winning their previous game in overtime. 

Washington Capitals:  S. Milano (LW) Early Jan - Upper Body. T. Oshie (RW) Early Jan - Lower Body. M. Pacioretty (LW) Early Jan - Achilles. N. Backstrom (C) out for season - Hip.

New York Rangers:  K. Kakko (RW) Out indefinitely - Lower Body. F. Chytil (C) Out indefinitely - Upper Body.

“I like where we're at. ... We've shown some things, some ingredients of winning teams.” - Spencer Carbery after his team’s loss against the Lightning in their last game on Saturday. 

“There was a lot of resiliency tonight. It was a good game. Buffalo played hard. They are a really good offensive team." - Peter Laviolette after his team’s win against the Sabres in their last game on Saturday.

LW Ovechkin, Alex

C Strome, Dylan

RW Wilson, Tom

LD Fehérváry, Martin

RD Carlson, John

G Lindgren, Charlie

LW Kreider, Chris

C Zibanejad, Mika

RW Wheeler, Blake

LD Lindgren, Ryan

RD Fox, Adam

G Shesterkin, Igor

Points: A. Ovechkin (20)

Goals: D. Strome (13)

Assists: J. Carlson (18)

GAA: C. Lindgren (2.29)

Points: A. Panarin (44)

Goals: A. Panarin (18)

Assists: A. Panarin (26)

GAA: J. Quick (2.27)

Coaches:

Washington Capitals: Spencer Carbery (1st season)

New York Rangers: Peter Laviolette (1st season)