by Ben Perks
The Washington Capitals host the New York Rangers for their NHL season opener on Wednesday night. The Capitals are the oddsmakers’ favorites to beat the Rangers, but the New York NHL franchise has been a tricky opponent for Washington in recent meetings. So, could they pull off an upset? Get insights and the latest odds for this matchup.
The Rangers ended the 2020-21 season with a 27-23-6 overall record and an on-the-road record of 13-12-3. The Capitals recorded 36-15-5 overall, going 17-8-3 at home. Although Washington is a slight -130 favorite to beat the Rangers, New York is 6-4-0 in the last ten games against the Capitals. The rivals split last season’s series 2-2 in the Capital One Arena as the Rangers went a perfect 4-0 on the puckline. Judging on these stats, you can see why online sportsbooks think this NHL game is close to call.
The Rangers Have Bulked Up
Although the Rangers were a top 10 offense and defense last season, they missed the playoffs by being outmuscled in a strong division. This, combined with the haunting memory of Tom Wilson beating up Artemi Panarin, led New York to add some gritty heavyweights to their roster. The Rangers recruited enforcer Ryan Reaves, rugged defenseman Patrik Nemeth, and checking line stud Barclay Goodrow. Along with strength, Goodrow brings his experience after winning the Stanley Cup back to back with Tampa Bay Lightning.
Gerrard Gallant also agreed to join the NHL outfit as head coach in June. Fans will now be hoping to see his coaching magic in action on Wednesday. Because of these new additions, New York will want to make a statement against last season’s bullies on Wednesday. Expect the Rangers to be fired up and ready for this one.
Injury Concerns for the Caps
Washington is down 4-5-1 in its last ten games against New York. However, the Capitals beat the Rangers 6-3 to take them out of the Stanley Cup Playoff race in the last meeting, so they won’t be too worried about their head-to-head record. The Capitals’ brand of fast-paced hockey is a joy to watch, but they could be outgunned against younger and more skilled teams like the Rangers. Despite Ilya Samsonov and Vitek Vanecek being a formidable duo in net, the aging Caps can become over-reliant on their offense.
If Alex Ovechkin can’t play due to his lower-body injury, he will join center Nicklas Backstrom on the sidelines. These absences will undoubtedly affect Washington’s offense. However, the oddsmakers still think they will get the win over the Rangers.
Other NHL Games on Wednesday
View the latest odds for tonight’s NHL matchups.
Ben is a sports journalist & part-time trader with a passion for finding +EV bets. Ben lives in Madrid, Spain where he enjoys the live poker scene, and sunshine where he covers UFC, MLB, NHL, NBA, as well as tennis betting.
