The Washington Capitals will travel to New York, New York to face the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden with the puck dropping at 7:00 PM ET on Wednesday evening and the game airing on MSG 2.

Washington has been one of the more surprising teams this season as they enter this game with a record of 17-9-5 and 39 points which puts them in 4^th place in the Metropolitan Division. The Capitals have been one of the worst scoring teams in the league as they enter this game averaging the 3^rd fewest goals per game with an average of 2.53 goals per game. However, they have been one of the best teams defensively as they are allowing the 10^th fewest goals per game with an average of 2.8 goals allowed per game. 

Darcy Kuemper has won his last three starts with wins on the road against the Chicago Blackhawks and the Carolina Hurricanes while defeating the New York Islanders at home and has not allowed more than two goals in a game during that stretch while finishing with a save percentage of .941, .966, and .938 in his last three starts. Darcy Kuemper will be looking to improve his winning streak to four games when the Washington Capitals travel to face the New York Rangers.

The New York Rangers enter this game leading the Metropolitan Division with a record of 23-8-1 and 47 points which is the best record in the Eastern Conference and is tied with the Vegas Golden Knights for the 2^nd best record in the NHL. The Rangers rank 13^th in the NHL in goals per game with an average of 3.35 goals per game while Artemi Panarin has played a pivotal role in the success the Rangers have had offensively this season as he leads the team in goals, assists, and points with 18 goals, 26 assists, and 44 points. 

 

The Rangers have also been one of the best teams defensively as they are allowing an average of 2.77 goals per game which is the 8^th fewest goals per game in the NHL. Igor Shesterkin has also won his last three starts for the Rangers and has an overall record of 13-7 while allowing an average of 2.86 goals per game with a save percentage of .906 this season. The Rangers will look to build off the momentum following the win at home against the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday and pick up their 5^th win in their last six games when they host the Washington Capitals on Wednesday evening.

BookMaker has the New York Rangers listed as -220 moneyline favorites at home against the Washington Capitals on Wednesday evening. Washington has won six of the last ten while New York has won two of the last three meetings. The Capitals have won by an average margin of 1.1 goals per game over the last ten while the Rangers have won by an average margin of .33 goals per game over the last three games in the series.

Both goalies enter this game on three-game winning streaks and have been phenomenal in those starts as Darcy Kuemper has not allowed more than two goals during that stretch and has had a save percentage of at least .938 in those contests.

 

The Capitals have also won six of the last ten and have outscored the Rangers by an average of 1.1 goals per game in those contests while the Rangers have won by an average margin of .33 goals per game in the last three games in the series. I look for this to be a tightly contested game on Wednesday evening which is why I am taking the puck line with the Washington Capitals at +1.5 when they travel to face the New York Rangers.