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(NHL) Washington vs. NY Rangers,
Money Line: -161.00 Washington (Away)
Result: Win
Money Line: -161.00 Washington (Away)
Result: Win
The set-up: The 44-24-7 (95 points) Washington Capitals go after their eighth win in nine games Monday as they attempt to create more of a cushion atop of the Metropolitan Division when they visit the New York Rangers for the opener of a home-and-home series (Caps will host the Rangers on Wednesday). Washington heads into tonight's contest with a three-point lead over second-place Pittsburgh in the division, after extending their winning streak to three games with Saturday's 6-4 triumph at Montreal. Meanwhile, the 33-34-8 (74 points) Rangers are close to officially being eliminated from playoff contention despite going 3-2-2 over their last seven games.
Washington: Captain Alex Ovechkin leads the league with 44 goals and tops the Caps with 81 points but has been kept off the scoresheet in two straight contests. Evgeny Kuznetsov (23 goals & 73 points) has recorded three goals and six assists during his four-game point streak while Nicklas Backstrom (19 goals and 61 points) helped set up four tallies Saturday, prompting coach Barry Trotz to tell reporters afterward, "He could have had six assists." John Carlson leads all NHL defensemen with 63 points after posting 10 in his last eight contests.
NY Rangers: The Rangers are all but officially eliminated from playoff contention (their "tragic number" is three points) but this rebuilding team has been revitalized by a spate of youngsters thrust into pivotal roles. New York has gone 5-4-2 in March, during which it has beaten Pittsburgh as well as handed damaging losses to two fringe wild-card contenders, the Calgary Flames and the Carolina Hurricanes. The Rangers knocked off Buffalo 5-1 on Saturday behind two goals from second-year player Jimmy Vesey and 43 saves by rookie Alexandar Georgiev, who made his second straight start in place of injured veteran Henrik Lundqvist (back). Georgiev is a 22-year-old Russian who was signed as a free agent. He is 4-3-1 with a 2.85 goals-against average and .926 save percentage in nine games (eight starts). Mika Zibanejad leads a group of red-hot forwards with a five-game goal-scoring streak during which he has netted seven of his team-leading 27 goals (has 46 points). However, Chris Kreider might be the team's hottest player of all with three goals and seven assists during a five-game streak, pushing his total to 36 points in 51 contests.
The pick: It seems like the Washington Capitals are rounding into form as the playoffs approach. Seven wins in the Caps' last eight games have kept the Pittsburgh Penguins at bay in the race for the Metropolitan Division championship. Washington is three points ahead of Pittsburgh and has one game in hand on the Penguins. The Rangers have not stopped trying but the Caps could really put themselves in a greta position to hold off the Pens with win sin this home-and-home series. It will either be Holtby or Gubauer in net. Holtby is 31-15-4 on the season (3.3 GAA & .906 SP) and while Gubauer posted a poor .886 save percentage over the first two months of the season, he has recorded a .937 mark since. Either one will do. Make teh Caps an 8* play.
Washington: Captain Alex Ovechkin leads the league with 44 goals and tops the Caps with 81 points but has been kept off the scoresheet in two straight contests. Evgeny Kuznetsov (23 goals & 73 points) has recorded three goals and six assists during his four-game point streak while Nicklas Backstrom (19 goals and 61 points) helped set up four tallies Saturday, prompting coach Barry Trotz to tell reporters afterward, "He could have had six assists." John Carlson leads all NHL defensemen with 63 points after posting 10 in his last eight contests.
NY Rangers: The Rangers are all but officially eliminated from playoff contention (their "tragic number" is three points) but this rebuilding team has been revitalized by a spate of youngsters thrust into pivotal roles. New York has gone 5-4-2 in March, during which it has beaten Pittsburgh as well as handed damaging losses to two fringe wild-card contenders, the Calgary Flames and the Carolina Hurricanes. The Rangers knocked off Buffalo 5-1 on Saturday behind two goals from second-year player Jimmy Vesey and 43 saves by rookie Alexandar Georgiev, who made his second straight start in place of injured veteran Henrik Lundqvist (back). Georgiev is a 22-year-old Russian who was signed as a free agent. He is 4-3-1 with a 2.85 goals-against average and .926 save percentage in nine games (eight starts). Mika Zibanejad leads a group of red-hot forwards with a five-game goal-scoring streak during which he has netted seven of his team-leading 27 goals (has 46 points). However, Chris Kreider might be the team's hottest player of all with three goals and seven assists during a five-game streak, pushing his total to 36 points in 51 contests.
The pick: It seems like the Washington Capitals are rounding into form as the playoffs approach. Seven wins in the Caps' last eight games have kept the Pittsburgh Penguins at bay in the race for the Metropolitan Division championship. Washington is three points ahead of Pittsburgh and has one game in hand on the Penguins. The Rangers have not stopped trying but the Caps could really put themselves in a greta position to hold off the Pens with win sin this home-and-home series. It will either be Holtby or Gubauer in net. Holtby is 31-15-4 on the season (3.3 GAA & .906 SP) and while Gubauer posted a poor .886 save percentage over the first two months of the season, he has recorded a .937 mark since. Either one will do. Make teh Caps an 8* play.
