Tuesday night in the NHL brings an excellent seven-game slate and the only game in which both teams are above .500 is the New York Rangers vs. Washington Capitals.
The Rangers visit Washington for a game which will be broadcast nationally on ESPN at 7:30 PM ET. Both teams are off to a great start to the season and this makes for an exciting head-to-head matchup between Metropolitan Division rivals.
While there does not appear to be much margin of error between these teams with them both being in strong form, the Rangers look to have a bit of an edge.
On the road in this young season, the Rangers are 4-0-0 with an impressive +17 goal differential across those games. That is an average win on the road so far by 4.25 goals.
Obviously, that clip is not sustainable over the course of the season. But until they slow down, this Rangers team has given little reason for bettors to fade them. As good as Washington has been, New York has better numbers in goals scored per game, goals allowed per game, power play, penalty kill, face off percentage, goals scored 5 on 5, and goals allowed 5 on 5.
The Rangers look to be the better team in this one and are in strong form. Riding the trend of them winning by 2+ goals on the road brings nice value tonight.
There are not many effective ways to slow down the Rangers, although one such way is playing physical. That is an area in which Tom Wilson is extremely competent.
Wilson’s game has also evolved in such a productive way that he has nearly a point per game early on this season and is logging second-line, top power play minutes.
Wilson’s line, which includes Pierre-Luc Dubois and Connor McMichael, has combined for 19 points in 21 games played along with a +9 rating. In a game which could get chippy and see the Caps get a few power plays, Wilson will be on the ice with even more productive players.
The recent form of Wilson, along with his productive teammates and potential style of matchup tonight, bode well for him to get on the score sheet. Look for Wilson to get involved in this game.
Through the first eight games of the Rangers’ season, Chris Kreider has the second-most goals on the team with five thus far. Kreider has tallied 20-plus goals for six consecutive seasons with the last three seasons logging 52, 36, and 39-goal tallies respectively.
Early in this campaign, he has shown that same scoring touch.
Kreider is currently on the Rangers’ second line with Reilly Smith and Mika Zibanejad, as well as the top power play with Zibanejad, Artemi Panarin, Vincent Trochek, and Adam Fox.
Kreider is already a productive player. Adding in his talented teammates, his favorable lineup spots, and potential gameplan, there will be ample opportunity for Kreider to tuck one behind the goalie tonight.
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New York Rangers | -150 ML |
Washington Capitals | +125 ML |
Puck Line | NY Rangers -1.5 |
Total | O/U 6.0 |
Artemi Panarin (NY Rangers) | +145 |
Alexander Ovechkin (WAS Capitals) | +175 |
Chris Kreider (NY Rangers) | +180 |
Alexis Lafreniere (NY Rangers) | +210 |
Vincent Trocheck (NY Rangers) | +225 |
Dylan Strome (WAS Capitals) | +230 |
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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.