[7:00 PM] Rangers @ Capitals

Who will WIN this matchup?

New York Rangers (2-2-0)

@ Washington Capitals (3-0-1)

 

Starting Goalies:

Henrik Lundqvist(NYR): Confirmed

Braden Holtby(WSH): Confirmed

 

Current odds:

New York Rangers: (+140)

Washington Capitals: (-160)

 

• Lundqvist gave up two goals on 18 shots in the Rangers loss to the Red Wings on Wednesday. Lundqvist was outplayed by Jimmy Howard and suffered his second straight loss. Lundqvist is 1-2-0 with a 2.71 GAA and 875 SV% in three starts to being the season. Tonight he faces a Washington team that he was 1-1-1 with a 4.09 GAA and .876 SV% against last year.

• Holtby allowed two goals on 28 shots in the Capitals win in Florida on Thursday. Holtby has been great to start the season, going 2-0-1 while only allowing a combined five goals on 80 shots (.938 SV%). Holtby was 3-2-0 with a 3.48 GAA and .876 SV% in five starts against the Rangers last year. Tonight he will go head-to-head with Henrik Lundqvist.

• Washington has been stingy defensively this season, allowing only five goals in four games. Just two of those five goals were scored at even strength. The Caps returned the same seven defensemen and two goaltenders from last season, and they’ve continued their strong play from last season when they permitted a franchise record low 191 goals against.

• The Rangers should provide another good early season test for the Capitals; New York has won eight of its last 11 visits to Verizon Center (8-3-0), and the Rangers scored a total of 16 goals in their five games against the Caps last season. With 15 goals in four games this season, the Rangers are tied for fifth in the NHL with an average of 3.75 goals per game. Ten different Rangers have scored this season, and 18 of them – including goaltender Antti Raanta – have collected at least a point.

 

StreakSmarts Pick: Washington Capitals  

Confidence: 5/10

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