Skip to main content

Capitals vs. Rangers Odds, Picks, Predictions: Two Slumping Teams Meet in New York

Scott Cullen

Updated on March 14, 2023 at 4:20 PM EDT • Read time: 2 minutes and 47 seconds. Find more information on Twitter and Google News.

Patrick Kane of the New York Rangers skates against the Ottawa Senators at Madison Square Garden.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MARCH 02: Patrick Kane #88 of the New York Rangers skates against the Ottawa Senators at Madison Square Garden on March 02, 2023 in New York City. BRUCE BENNETT / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP

The New York Rangers and Washington Capitals had contrasting trade deadlines, but now face similar challenges as they prepare to clash at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday. Check out sports betting analyst Scott Cullen’s top NHL pick, based on the most favorable NHL odds.

The Rangers’ hopes of securing a top-two spot in the Metropolitan Division have been dashed as they have lost seven out of their last 11 games. As a result, they now trail division co-leaders New Jersey and Carolina by 10 points.

Despite playing nine of their last 12 games on the road, the Rangers cannot rely on home-ice advantage against the Capitals. They have a mediocre 17-11-4 record at Madison Square Garden with a slim plus-4 goal margin as they begin a five-game homestand on Tuesday.

The Capitals are currently trailing the New York Islanders by five points for the second wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference, with the Buffalo Sabres and Florida Panthers separating them. Despite not being completely out of the playoff race, Washington’s chances are looking grim with only four wins in their last 13 games.

Below is our top pick for the Capitals vs. Rangers NHL game, with odds provided by FanDuel. Our confidence level in this pick is rated on a scale of 1 to 5 stars.

Capitals vs. Rangers pick

Under 6.5 (-122 via FanDuel) ⭐⭐⭐

If both teams fail to demonstrate a clear advantage, consider focusing on the total points scored, and in this scenario, consider betting on the Under.

In 10 out of 14 games following the All-Star break, Washington has scored six goals or less. One of the few exceptions was on Feb. 25 when the Capitals beat the Rangers 6-3 in Washington. Despite only 53 shots on goal between the two teams, the outcome of that game can be attributed to a combination of luck and below-average goaltending.

In the same time period since Feb. 18, the Rangers have scored an average of 2.41 goals per 60 minutes, ranking 29th in the league. They have scored six goals or less in seven out of their last 11 games. Despite acquiring veteran scoring wingers Vladimir Tarasenko and Patrick Kane via trade, New York’s offense has not improved. Tarasenko has recorded nine points in 15 games, while Kane has two goals and one assist in five games.

Despite the Rangers underperforming offensively and the Capitals struggling to finish strong, I believe the Under is the best bet for this game. However, there is a chance that the Rangers could finally unleash their offensive potential, which is why I am still giving this a three-star rating.

Take a look at our most recent Norris Trophy betting lines.

Capitals vs. Rangers best odds

FanDuel (-122) 

DraftKingsFanDuelBetMGMCaesarsPointsBet
Under 6.5Under 6.5Under 6.5Under 6.5Under 6.5
-135-122-125-133-131

Among our top sportsbooks, FanDuel offers the most favorable number on the board with a total of six. While some others also have the total set at six, it is worth exploring alternative totals for a price comparison. In this case, FanDuel edges out BetMGM with odds of -122 compared to -125.

PointsBet, Caesars, and DraftKings have odds ranging from -130 to -135.

Take a look at our odds for the Rocket Richard Trophy and Hart Trophy.

Capitals vs. Rangers odds

Take a look at our odds for the Calder Trophy.

Capitals vs. Rangers odds analysis

FanDuel started the game with the Rangers as the favorites at -178, while the Capitals were the underdogs at +146.

Despite 70% of the moneyline wagers being placed on the Rangers, the line has moved in favor of the Capitals. The Rangers are now -170, while the Capitals are +140.

The initial total was set at 6.5, with the opening odds favoring the Under at -124 and the Over at +102. The total briefly dropped to 5.5 before returning to 6.5. Currently, there is an equal amount of bets on both sides, with 50% on the Over and 50% on the Under. With the total back at 6.5, the odds now stand at -122 for the Under and +100 for the Over.

Capitals vs. Rangers game info

  • Date: Tuesday, March 14, 7 p.m. ET
  • TV: ESPN, ESPN+, Sportsnet, TVAS
  • Location: Madison Square Garden, New York, NY

The Capitals-Rangers pick was made on March 14, 2023 at 2:30 p.m. Eastern Time.

Here are our best NHL betting sites:

If you are 21 or older and have a gambling problem, please call 1-800-GAMBLER. Please note that bonuses are not available in Ontario.

Related pages

Written By:
Scott Cullen
Scott Cullen is UnderscoregReview.com’s Sports Betting Analyst and is one of the most well-known sports betting writers on the web. He wrote about fantasy sports for TSN for many years, and he has also written for The Athletic, NHL.com, The Hockey News, Monkey Knife Fight, and McKeen’s Hockey. Born in Kitchener, Ontario, Canada, Cullen was an Economics major at Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo, Ontario and played for the Laurier Golden Hawks hockey team.