Washington Capitals at New York Rangers 5/5/21 - NHL Picks & Predictions

The Washington Capitals look for a second consecutive victory over the New York Rangers when visiting the Rangers on Wednesday. Washington is 33-14-5 with 71 points and tied for first place in the East division with the Pittsburgh Penguins. Washington has clinched a playoff berth and the Capitals have won four of the last six overall, but were defeated in two consecutive games by Pittsburgh before defeating the Rangers on Monday.

Washington is scoring an average of 3.42 goals per game and allowing an average of 2.94 goals per game. Alex Ovechkin is the leading goal scorer for Montreal with 24, while Nicklas Backstrom is the leader in assists with 37 and points with 52. Goalie Vitek Vanecek is 19-9-4 with a goals-against average of 2.76, save percentage of .907 and two shutouts.

The New York Rangers have lost three straight and were knocked out of playoff contention with their loss to Washington on Monday. New York is 26-21-6 with 58 points. The Rangers are nine points behind the fourth-place New York Islanders and have been shut out in two of their last three games scoring an average of only 1.00 goals per game over that span.

New York is scoring an average of 3.19 goals per game and allowing an average of 2.70 goals per game. The leading goal scorer for New York is Mika Zibanejad with 22 while the leader in assists is Adam Fox with 42 and the overall points leader is Artemi Panarin with 58. Goalie Igor Shesterkin is 15-13-3 with a goals-against average of 2.53, save percentage of .918 and two shutouts.