8:05 PM EST (NHL) - NEW YORK RANGERS VS. WASHINGTON CAPITALS PREVIEW AND FREE PICKS
Time: 08:00 P.M. EST Venue: Verizon Center The New York Rangers have a chance to move into a tie for the Eastern Conference lead, but the Washington Capitals could have a major say in them finishing first in any fashion. The red-hot Rangers continue their five-game road trip Wednesday night in the first of three remaining meetings with the Capitals. A win in this game would move New York (41-17-7) into sole possession of the top spot in the Metropolitan Division and into a tie with Montreal for the conference lead. The Rangers, also vying for the league's best record, certainly look worthy of that lofty status while going 11-1-2 after beating the Islanders 2-1 on Tuesday." They're a top team, no question," Capitals coach Barry Trotz said. "That's one reason why they made it to the (Stanley Cup) finals last year. Daily Winning Sports Picks. They're a team that's going pretty good right now." Washington (36-21-10) will have plenty of chances to slow New York down, with two meetings this month before concluding the regular season against the division rival at home April 11." We'll get a chance to see how we stack up in the next little while a few times," Trotz said. Like the Rangers, the Capitals seem headed for the postseason with 82 points, 10 above the East cutoff. New York opened the season series with a 4-2 home victory on Dec. 23 behind Rick Nash's hat trick and 30 saves from Henrik Lundqvist. Nash - second in the NHL with 39 goals - will be on the ice Wednesday, while Lundqvist continues to recover from a strained blood vessel. The Rangers have hardly missed their star goaltender, gong 12-2-3 in his absence. Cam Talbot has started all but one of those games, posting a 2.35 goals-against average. He's been even better while going 3-0-1 in the last four, compiling a .966 save percentage in wins over the Predators, Chicago and Islanders." I think it starts with Talbot," Nash said. "He's been unbelievable since he stepped in and took the job. He's been great, and we've been focusing on our defensive style. The last four games have been a playoff atmosphere." Talbot, though, could be rested since he's only started on back-to-back nights once since replacing Lundqvist and New York lost both contests Feb. 7-8. A rare night off for Talbot would mean the second NHL appearance for Mackenzie Skapski, who made 24 saves in a 3-1 win at Buffalo on Feb. 20 in his NHL debut. Nash has five goals in his last two meetings with Washington, but just one in nine visits to the nation's capital, including playoffs. Free NHL Picks. The Capitals have won three of four games, and all of those victories have come with a healthy Alex Ovechkin, the league leader with 44 goals. The star left wing has five goals and two assists in three games, tallying one of each in Saturday's 6-1 win over the Sabres after a lower-body injury forced him to miss a 2-1 loss to Minnesota two days earlier. Ovechkin has a goal in each of the last two meetings with the Rangers, but none in the last five overall at home. Nicklas Backstrom failed to record a point against New York in December, but enters this meeting with five assists in four games. His 418 career assists tie him with Michal Pivonka for the franchise record, while Ovechkin is just one back. Washington could face the red-hot Rangers without key defensemen Mike Green (upper-body) and Brooks Orpik (lower body), who are both day to day.
Time: 08:00 P.M. EST Venue: Verizon Center The New York Rangers have a chance to move into a tie for the Eastern Conference lead, but the Washington Capitals could have a major say in them finishing first in any fashion. The red-hot Rangers continue their five-game road trip Wednesday night in the first of three remaining meetings with the Capitals. A win in this game would move New York (41-17-7) into sole possession of the top spot in the Metropolitan Division and into a tie with Montreal for the conference lead. The Rangers, also vying for the league's best record, certainly look worthy of that lofty status while going 11-1-2 after beating the Islanders 2-1 on Tuesday." They're a top team, no question," Capitals coach Barry Trotz said. "That's one reason why they made it to the (Stanley Cup) finals last year. Daily Winning Sports Picks. They're a team that's going pretty good right now." Washington (36-21-10) will have plenty of chances to slow New York down, with two meetings this month before concluding the regular season against the division rival at home April 11." We'll get a chance to see how we stack up in the next little while a few times," Trotz said. Like the Rangers, the Capitals seem headed for the postseason with 82 points, 10 above the East cutoff. New York opened the season series with a 4-2 home victory on Dec. 23 behind Rick Nash's hat trick and 30 saves from Henrik Lundqvist. Nash - second in the NHL with 39 goals - will be on the ice Wednesday, while Lundqvist continues to recover from a strained blood vessel. The Rangers have hardly missed their star goaltender, gong 12-2-3 in his absence. Cam Talbot has started all but one of those games, posting a 2.35 goals-against average. He's been even better while going 3-0-1 in the last four, compiling a .966 save percentage in wins over the Predators, Chicago and Islanders." I think it starts with Talbot," Nash said. "He's been unbelievable since he stepped in and took the job. He's been great, and we've been focusing on our defensive style. The last four games have been a playoff atmosphere." Talbot, though, could be rested since he's only started on back-to-back nights once since replacing Lundqvist and New York lost both contests Feb. 7-8. A rare night off for Talbot would mean the second NHL appearance for Mackenzie Skapski, who made 24 saves in a 3-1 win at Buffalo on Feb. 20 in his NHL debut. Nash has five goals in his last two meetings with Washington, but just one in nine visits to the nation's capital, including playoffs. Free NHL Picks. The Capitals have won three of four games, and all of those victories have come with a healthy Alex Ovechkin, the league leader with 44 goals. The star left wing has five goals and two assists in three games, tallying one of each in Saturday's 6-1 win over the Sabres after a lower-body injury forced him to miss a 2-1 loss to Minnesota two days earlier. Ovechkin has a goal in each of the last two meetings with the Rangers, but none in the last five overall at home. Nicklas Backstrom failed to record a point against New York in December, but enters this meeting with five assists in four games. His 418 career assists tie him with Michal Pivonka for the franchise record, while Ovechkin is just one back. Washington could face the red-hot Rangers without key defensemen Mike Green (upper-body) and Brooks Orpik (lower body), who are both day to day.
