Capitals vs. Rangers NHL Odds, Analysis, and Pick — May 5, 2021

The Washington Capitals and the New York Rangers have yet to cool down from a controversial showdown earlier this week, but here they are again, about to square off at the Garden Wednesday night. The Capitals (33-14-5) look to have the last laugh in his regular-season series, while the Rangers (26-21-6) are seeking to add precious points to their playoff resume.

With that, NitroBetting news goes over the highlights of the upcoming game, including recent team form, the latest NHL odds, betting trends, and betting predictions, all of which are geared to help you lock in those winning picks. Don’t forget to check out more Hockey odds at our online BTC sportsbook before placing your bets!

Capitals vs. Rangers Game Information

Good morning pic.twitter.com/oJOP0DgDB6

— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) May 5, 2021

• When: Wednesday, May 5, 2021, 7:00 PM ET
• Where: Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York
• TV: NHL.tv, TVAS, NBCSWA, ATTSN-PT
• Radio: Caps Radio 24/7 / ESPN NY 98.7 FM
• Live Stream: NHL Live
• NHL Betting Odds: Washington Capitals (-130) / OU: 5.5

Why Bet on the Washington Capitals?

Sorry, Rangers, but Tom Wilson is eligible to play this Wednesday. That’s despite getting fined $5,000 for his on-ice antics during Monday’s 6-3 win over New York that prevented a three-game losing skid for Washington that previously lost twice in a back-to-back set against the Pittsburgh Penguins.

The Capitals’ offense shined in that Capitals vs. Rangers game even though they only had Alex Ovechkin for barely 40 seconds and were missing both TJ Oshie and Evgeny Kuznetsov. Ovi is questionable to play Wednesday because of a lower-body issue, while Oshie and Kuznetsov are both ruled out for personal and COVID-19-related issues, respectively. Still, the Caps have enough firepower on the top line to set the tone for the team if Ovi skips this one.

With Nicklas Backstrom playing center on the same line as Daniel Sprong and Anthony Mantha, the Capitals can find success anew against the Rangers, whom Washington outshot, 40-26 in the last meeting. The Capitals will look to get their power play going after getting blanked by the Rangers, albeit on just one attempt. Washington is third in the NHL with a 25.7 PP%.

Why Bet on the New York Rangers?

The Rangers will just have to focus on this game instead of sulking over the non-suspension of Wilson. After all, the best revenge they can serve the Capitals is a win this Wednesday at home. That top line with Mika Zibanejad, and Pavel Buchnevich can definitely be a headache for Washington in this Capitals vs. Rangers tilt.

Zibanejad, who leads the Rangers this season with 22 goals, found the back of the net twice on Monday, while Artemi Panarin recorded a pair of assists. Panarin, however, is now done for the rest of the regular season because of a lower-body injury. Kaapo Kakko also scored for the second line. Another key for New York here is its discipline in staying away from penalties to keep Washington’s lethal power play off the ice.

On the flip side, because this game has the makings of another brawl, the Rangers have to capitalize on every chance they get on the power play. They are only 1 of 8 on the man advantage in their last three games, though they scored that lone PP goal during that stretch against the Capitals.

Capitals vs. Rangers Betting Trends

• The Capitals are 5-1 in their last 6 games when up against a team that allowed at least 5 goals in the contest before.
• The Capitals are 20-6 SU in their last 26 games as the favorite.
• The Over is 6-1 in the Capitals’ last 7 after a win.
• The Rangers are 9-4 SU in their last 13 home games.
• The Rangers are 4-1 in their last 5 games after surrendering at least 5 goals in the previous game.
• The Under is 5-2 in the Rangers’ last 7 games overall.

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Capitals vs. Rangers Expert Betting Predictions

The Capitals have taken an all-hands-on-deck approach with some of their stars missing the last few games, and it showed in the win over the Rangers. However, a desperate and a healthier Rangers team could put up a better performance this time around, especially defensively. The team with the better blue-line play will likely come away with the win.

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*All odds stated are subject to change without prior notice.