There has been an undeniable Stanley Cup hangover with the Washington Capitals this season. The defending champions hoisted Lord Stanley’s chalice based in large part because of their willingness to play a full 200-foot game and be responsible on their back end. But head coach Barry Trotz departed right after the Cup was won and is leading the upstart New York Islanders as the top team in the Metropolitan Division ahead of the Caps. New Washington coach Todd Reirden had the unenviable task of following Trotz, and has not been able to command the same commitment to defense. For the New York Rangers it was understood that this would be a rebuilding season with no playoff berth. And the Broadway Blueshirts have certainly fulfilled that promise.
Washington Capitals vs. New York Rangers
Date and Time: Sunday, March 3, 2019, 12:30 p.m. ET
Location: Madison Square Garden, New York
NHL Betting Online Odds at Bookmaker.eu: Check Back Later
Capitals vs. Rangers TV Coverage: NBC
Odds Analysis
Live betting action is going to be predominately for the Caps. Washington boasts Stanley Cup championship credentials and the best player on the ice with Alex Ovechkin.
Current Form
The Rangers have dropped four of their last six games with just two of their last eight games going over the total. As a result, New York now stands at 27-26-8-2 with 34-28-1 over the total. The Rangers are in seventh place in the Metropolitan Division.
Washington has been much more profitable lately with four payouts in their last five games. The Caps have gone over the total in four of their last six matchups. Owing to that is an overall record of 36-21-6-1 with 34-27-3 over the total. Washington has climbed to second place in the Metropolitan Division
Coaches Adapt
David Quinn was hired as Rangers head coach out of the college ranks where he made a name for himself at Boston University. The Rangers figured that Quinn would be able to relate well to the younger players that they were putting into the lineup in replacement of the older veterans and large contracts that were shipped out. Quinn has shown well as a rookie NHL head coach taking into account the Rangers roster remake.
Todd Reirden of the Capitals was Barry Trotz’s top assistant during last year’s Stanley Cup run. Reirden is in his first season as an NHL head coach and faced the challenge of replacing the highly popular and respected Trotz while facing the demands of a franchise that has reached a new level of expectations and high standards. Ultimately Reirden will be judged in the spring when playoff results tell the ultimate tale.
Players to Watch
Certainly, all eyes will be on Alex Ovechkin, the greatest goal scorer of the modern era, if not of all time. The Great Eight has lit the lamp 44 times this season as he continues to enhance his first ballot Hall of Fame resume.
For the Rangers veteran goaltender Henrick Lundqvist is now a blast from the past. Lundqvist is also projected to be a first ballot Hall of Famer and has been a Rangers mainstay. In fact, King Henrik preferred to stay with the rebuilding Rangers than go to another team that had a shot at a title.
Free NHL Live Betting Odds Pick
Washington has dominated their head to head series with the Rangers. The Capitals have won eight of their last nine games against the Broadway Blueshirts with the last three meetings going over the total. The Caps have taken five of their last seven at Madison Square Garden with just one of the last five in this series at New York going over the total.
NHL Live Betting Odds Picks: Washington Capitals
NHL Live Betting Odds Score Prediction: Capitals 4, Rangers 2
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