NHL Game Preview: New York Rangers at Washington Capitals with Line Combinations 1/4/2025

New York Rangers (17-19-1, 35 pts) at Washington Capitals (25-10-3, 53 pts)

Venue: Capital One Arena
Date: Saturday, January 4
Time: 12:00 pm EST

TV: ESPN + / ABC
Radio:
New York Rangers – WEPN-FM 98.7 ESPN New York
Washington Capitals – WJFK 106.7 FM / WFED 1500 AM

DraftKings Sportsbook Betting Lines:
New York Rangers +1.5 ML +145
Washington Capitals -1.5 ML -170
O/U 5.5

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New York Rangers News & Notes:

The Rangers are coming off a 2-1 win against the Boston Bruins on Thursday night. Jonathan Quick stole the show and the game with 32 saves and a .970 Save Percentage. The victory snapped a four-game losing streak for New York. The Rangers travel to Washington to take on the Capitals in D.C. in an afternoon matinee today. New York is 3-6-0 against the Metropolitan Division this season but is 13-5-1 when scoring three or more goals.

Washington Capitals News & Notes:

The Capitals have been alternating wins and losses over the last five games with Washington dropping their latest contest 4-3 in a shootout to Minnesota. The Capitals won the first meeting between these clubs with a 5-3 victory on October 29. The first-place Capitals have a 9-4-0 record against the rest of the Metropolitan Division.

New York Rangers Projected Lines:

Panarin-Trocheck-Lafreniere
Kreider-Zibanejad-Smith
Cuylle-Chytil-Berard
Edstrom-Carrick-Vesey

Lindgren-Fox
Miller-Borgen
Vaakanainen-Schneider

Quick
Domingue

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Washington Capitals Projected Lines:

Ovechkin-Strome-RaddyshProtas
Protas-Dubois-Wilson
Eller-McMichael-Vrana
Duhaime-Dowd-Mangiapane

Sandin-Carlson
Chychrun-Roy
Fehervary-van Riemsdyk

Thompson
Lindgren

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Players To Watch:

New York Rangers

The win against the Bruins may have turned into a get-right game for two of the Rangers’ biggest offensive weapons as Mika Zibanejad snapped his eight-game goal-scoring drought, and Chris Kreider picked up his second assist of the season. The struggling pair has been a huge reason the Rangers find themselves tied at the bottom of the Division, but maybe having some success can turn them around as they try to climb back into playoff contention.

Washington Capitals

Alex Ovechkin continues to score goals, it’s what he does after all. The Great Eight has three goals in four games since returning from injury and now has 871 goals only 24 away from Wayne Gretzky’s NHL career goal-scoring record. Ovechkin leads the Capitals in goals this season with 18 goals in only 22 games. The 39-year-old Russian is on pace for 39 goals which would leave him just short of Gretzky’s record.

Injury Report:

New York Rangers

G Igor Shesterkin – IR

Washington Capitals

LW Sonny Milano – IR
RW TJ Oshie – LTIR
C Nicklas Backstrom – LTIR

Next Game:

New York Rangers – January 5 at Chicago Blackhawks
Washington Capitals – January 6 at Buffalo Sabres

Season 4. Episode 15. Public Skate – Bruins Benders Podcast

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1. Season 4. Episode 15. Public Skate 50:19
2. Season 4. Episode 14. West Coast Road Trip. 41:21
3. Season 4. Episode 13. This Is Not the Sway 01:14:21
4. Season 4. Episode 12. Going Streaking! 55:26
5. Season 4. Episode 11. Have the Bruins Turned a Corner? 01:04:20