After breaking a four-game losing streak on Thursday, the New York Rangers are aiming for back-to-back wins for the first time since their three-game winning streak from November 14-19, as they prepare to face the Washington Capitals at Capital One Arena in a Saturday afternoon game.
The Rangers (17-19-1) kicked off 2025 with a 2-1 victory over the Boston Bruins at home, marking only their fifth win in the last 20 games (5-15-0). Jonathan Quick was outstanding, with 32 saves, while Mika Zibanejad and Brett Berard netted first-period goals to lead the team’s effort.
Although the win is a step in the right direction given their struggles over the past two months, Rangers coach Peter Laviolette emphasized the need to move on. “It’s great to win, but now we need to build on it as we head to Washington,” he said.
The Rangers will be facing the top team in the Metropolitan Division, the Capitals, who previously defeated them 5-3 in D.C. on October 29. The Capitals (25-10-3) boast the best goal differential in the Eastern Conference at plus-38 and rank second in the NHL, averaging 3.63 goals per game.
This matchup presents a significant challenge for the Rangers against a different Capitals squad than the one they swept in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs last spring. The weekend continues with a Sunday afternoon game against the Blackhawks in Chicago.
**Three Key Points to Watch When the Rangers Face the Capitals**:
1. **Jonathan Quick’s 400th Win Quest**: Following his impressive performance as a replacement for the injured Igor Shesterkin, Quick is set to start against the Capitals. He is one win away from reaching 400 career victories, which would make him the 15th goalie in NHL history to achieve this milestone. Quick has performed well this season with a record of 6-4-0 and impressive statistics.
2. **Ovechkin’s Goal Chase**: Alex Ovechkin, at 39, is 24 goals shy of surpassing Wayne Gretzky as the all-time leading goal-scorer in NHL history. He recently scored his 871st goal and has been prolific since returning from injury, showcasing a remarkable goal-scoring rate this season.
3. **Defensive Strategy**: To limit Ovechkin and the high-scoring Capitals, the Rangers need to prioritize blocking shots and passing lanes. Their recent performance against the Bruins reflected this effort, as they successfully blocked numerous shots. With key players leading in blocks, the Rangers’ defense will be critical in controlling the Capitals’ offensive threats.
**Projected Rangers Lineup**:
– Panarin – Trocheck – Lafreniere
– Kreider – Zibanejad – Smith
– Cuylle – Chytil – Berard
– Edstrom – Carrick – Vesey
– Lindgren – Fox
– Miller – Borgen
– Vaakanainen – Schneider
– Quick
– Domingue
**Rangers vs. Capitals: Game Details**: When, where, what time, how to watch.
