The Rangers step back into divisional traffic Tuesday night, opening a critical stretch against the Capitals in Washington. Puck drop at Capital One Arena is scheduled for 7 p.m. EST, with coverage on ESPN+.

New York (18-16-4) looks to rebound from a 2-1 road loss at Nashville on Sunday, though the Rangers have typically been strongest away from home. Artemi Panarin leads the team with 36 points, while Mika Zibanejad has 12 goals and 15 assists.

Goaltender Igor Shesterkin owns a 15-11-3 record with a 2.54 goals-against average, while Jonathan Quick has provided strong support in limited action. New York remains without J.T. Miller, Adam Fox, and Adam Edstrom, with Gabe Perreault and Matt Rempe listed day-to-day.

Washington (19-12-5) has dropped five of its last six games but sits ahead of New York in the Metropolitan standings. Tom Wilson leads Washington with 17 goals and 34 points, while Logan Thompson carries a 2.09 goals-against average.

Tuesday marks the second of four meetings between the division rivals this season, with the Capitals winning the first meeting 1-0 on Oct. 12.

Rangers +1.5 (-186)Capitals -1.5 (+156)Rangers +144Capitals -150Over 5.5 (+104)Under 5.5 (-117)

Note: The above data was collected on Dec. 23, 2025, and may have changed since writing.

Rangers vs Capitals Betting TrendsThe Rangers are 14-6 against the spread on the road this season.The Capitals are 9-10 against the spread when playing at home.The total has gone under in four of the Rangers’ last five games.The under has hit in five of the Capitals’ past seven outings.The Rangers have won 10 of their last 15 road matchups.The Capitals have won four of the last five meetings between these teams.Rangers vs Capitals Injury ReportsJ.T. Miller, RW — Injured reserve, upper body.Adam Fox, D — Injured reserve, upper body.Matt Rempe, C — Day to day, illness.Adam Edstrom, C — Injured reserve, lower body.Gabe Perreault, RW — Day to day, illness.Pierre-Luc Dubois, C — Injured reserve, abdomen.Ryan Leonard, RW — Injured reserve, upper body.Rangers vs Capitals Predictions and Picks

“Washington comes into this contest after losing five of their last six games and they have scored two goals or fewer in four of their last five. The Capitals are 11-6-2 at home this year, while the Rangers are 13-6-1 on the road. New York has won two of their last three, but they have also scored two goals or fewer in four of their last five. I know New York is one of the lowest scoring teams in the NHL, but I don’t like what I am seeing from Washington and their special teams have been bad. Take the Rangers on the road.” — David Racey, PickDawgz

“I’m taking the New York Rangers as road underdogs. Their road record (13-6-1) and goaltending (Shesterkin/Quick) suppress the Capitals’ home offense, and the Rangers’ recent clutch wins show resilience despite their injuries. The Capitals are solid, but Leonard is out, and the recent overtime loss highlights their vulnerabilities.” — Lim Smith, Picks and Parlays

“The Capitals are getting the benefit of the doubt at home, where they’ve played their best hockey, and they’ve won four straight games against the Rangers. However, the Capitals have been stuck in the mud offensively and aren’t a team I’m excited to back in the favorite role. The Rangers have also been road warriors all season, where they have 13 wins. With the way the Caps are playing right now, I’ll gladly side with the Rangers as road dogs, something we’ve done a lot this season.” — Randy Chambers, Sports Chat Place