There’s never a bad time for a divisional rivalry game. The New York Rangers and Washington Capitals aren’t familiar with the concept of a friendly battle. It’s an ugly rivalry full of fights and big hits. That won’t be any different on Sunday as these two Metropolitan Division teams show down.
The Rangers have the edge at -112 on the moneyline on DraftKings Sportsbook, while the Capitals are listed at -108. The total is set at 5.5 goals. Let’s get into a preview, prediction and pick for this matchup between the Rangers and Capitals.
Rangers vs. Capitals preview, prediction
Washington didn’t get its season off to an ideal start, losing its opening game 3-1 to the Boston Bruins. After a top finish in the division last season, it hopes to be playoff contenders once again. The Capitals righted the ship with a 4-2 victory over the Islanders on the road. Now, they’ll play another New York squad in Sunday’s only NHL game.
The Rangers didn’t get out to a great start either, suffering a 3-0 defeat to the Pittsburgh Penguins. But they bounced with a 4-0 win vs. the Sabres and a 6-1 win vs. the Penguins.
These are two hard-nosed hockey teams with solid blue lines, big checking forwards, and some high-end offensive talents. This is going to be a tough clash to pick.
Rangers vs. Capitals pick, best bet
Despite being the road team, the Capitals are nearly the favorites. They were a far superior team last year and carried over much of their roster. I understand why our oddsmakers are giving the Rangers a slight edge at home, but Washington remains the better team until further notice. Playing on the MSG ice is something the Capitals are accustomed to, and it won’t faze them. Take the Capitals as the road dogs.
