Alex Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals are trying to catch the New York Rangers for the third spot in the Metropolitan Division. They are behind the Rangers by four points but could close the gap in half with a win later tonight at home. Will the Caps go 2-0 this season versus New York? Or will the Rangers increase the size of their lead over Washington – and also avenge their loss to the same team earlier this season? With that said, it’s a good time to check out our NHL odds series, which includes our Washington Capitals-New York Rangers prediction, odds, and pick we have laid out below.

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Courtesy of FanDuel, here are the Washington Capitals-New York Rangers odds:

NHL odds: Washington Capitals-New York Rangers Odds

Washington Capitals: +1.5 (-230)

New York Rangers: -1.5 (+184)

Over: 6.0 (+100)

Under: 6.0 (-122)

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Why the Washington Capitals Could Cover the Spread 

The Capitals are playing like true road warriors, as they have not lost any of their past five games away from DC. That’s the streak they will be gunning to keep alive when they share the ice again with the Rangers. On the strength of Alex Ovechkin’s pair of power play goals, the Capitals demolished New York back in October for an easy 5-1 home victory.  Washington went 3/6 on the man advantage in that game and its special teams could be smelling blood in the water again, as the Rangers have allowed opponents to convert seven times on 28 power play chances (25%) over their last nine games.

Conversely, the Capitals have gone 3/11 (27.3%) on the power play in their last three outings, including in their most recent game – a 5-3 road win versus the Philadelphia Flyers on Feb. 17. Washington’s offense could also get a boost this Thursday, with Nicklas Backstrom expected to hit the ice after missing the Flyers game for personal reasons. The Capitals are also likely to turn to Ilya Samsonov for netminding duties, as Vitek Vanecek remains uncertain.

Vanecek has not played since February 1 because of an upper-body injury, but the Caps can certainly put their trust in Samsonov, who is 10-2-1 with a 2.76 GAA and .919 SV% in 14 starts this season. Samsonov can look forward to relatively light work against the Rangers, who are last in the NHL with a 44.83 CF% and fourth-worst with a 44.83 SF%. Washington is 27-25 against the puck line this season (18-7 on the road).

Why the New York Rangers Could Cover the Spread

Henrik Lundqvist is no longer patrolling the crease in the Big Apple, but Rangers fans are getting spoiled with sensational goaltending work again, this time by Igor Shesterkin. The 26-year-old Russian is building a strong case not only for the Vezina but for the Hart Memorial as well. New York has put itself in a position to make the playoffs as a top-three team in the Metropolitan Division mainly because of Shesterkin’s body of work.

He comes into Thursday’s meeting with the Caps with a 24-5-3 record and a sparkling 2.01 GAA and an even shinier .939 SV%. He turned away all of the Ottawa Senators’ 30 shots on goal in a 2-1 road win last Sunday. Despite New York’s poor possession numbers and the fact that it is only 14th in the league in 5-on-5 shooting percentage, it’s managed to rank sixth in PDO (101.1), thanks to Shesterkin’s outstanding play. The Rangers are second overall in 5-on-5 SV% and ninth in 5-on-5 High Danger Scoring Chance Against percentage (10.7%). Among goalies with at least 20 starts made this season, Shesterkin leads the NHL in Goals Saved Above Expected (28.5), Goals Saved Above Expected Per 60 (0.910), and GAA Better Than Expected (0.91), per Money Puck. 

In other words, he is earning every penny of his $5.6 million salary this season. But Shesterkin is also seeing the Rangers’ offense make life easier for him of late. The Rangers, 3-0-1, in their last four games, have collected a 52.1 CF% in that span. They are moving in the direction opposite Washington, which has been outshot in three of its past four opponents. Chris Kreider, who leads the Rangers with 33 goals, scored his team’s lone goal in the October loss to the Capitals. 

Final Washington Capitals-New York Rangers Prediction & Pick

As mentioned the Capitals are hot on the road and could be getting back key bodies tonight. They could be cold after a long rest, but they definitely have the fresher legs than the Rangers, who last played last Sunday. As the better possession team, even with Shesterkin stationed in front of the net for the Rangers, I expect the Capitals to come away with a big win in Gotham. Taking Washington's puck line for my Capitals-Rangers prediction.

Final Washington Capitals-New York Rangers Pick: Capitals +1.5 (-230)