Two teams who rolled into the holiday break will look to pick up where they left off when the Washington Capitals visit the New York Rangers on Wednesday.
The Rangers resume play tied for first in the NHL in wins (23) and tied for second in points (47). New York has won four of its last five games and eight of its last 12 games after a 4-3 overtime win against the visiting Buffalo Sabres on Saturday.
The Rangers’ top line is, as expected, leading the way.
Mika Zibanejad had a goal and two assists against Buffalo, win giving him points in seven straight games (seven goals, six assists) and in 15 of 16 (11 goals, 12 assists).
Chris Kreider has notched a point in three straight games (one goal, five assists) and has eight points (three goals, five assists) in his last five games.
And new addition Blake Wheeler extended his point streak to three games with an assist against the Sabres. He has seven points (three goals, four assists) in his past six games.
“I think we’ve had enough time together now,” Zibanejad said of his line. “We’ve got to know each other and know how we’re successful together. We’ve just got to keep it going.”
Kreider scored at 2:28 of overtime to give New York the win against Buffalo.
“There was a lot to like about tonight, the way we played the game,” New York coach Peter Laviolette said. “Especially coming off of (a 4-3 loss at home to the Edmonton Oilers), too. To put that to bed and then to wake up and play the way we did, the right mindset right from the start, was really good.”
The Rangers scored a power play goal in their seventh straight game, their longest such streak since Oct. 5-22, 2009 (eight games), according to the team website.
Washington, which sits fourth in the Metropolitan Division but holds the first wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference, has earned at least a point in seven of its past eight games (5-1-2). Included in that stretch is a 4-0 home win against the Rangers on Dec. 9.
“I like where we’re at,” Capitals coach Spencer Carbery said after a 2-1 shootout loss to the visiting Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday. “I think we’ve done a ton of really good things. I think we’ve found ways to win games and I think, to be honest with you, we have another level and another gear.”
Alex Ovechkin has been limited to six goals over the first 31 games, but other Capitals are picking up the slack. Dylan Strome leads the team with 13 goals while Tom Wilson and Anthony Mantha have 10 apiece.
Mantha, who scored the only Washington goal against Tampa Bay, is enjoying a bounce-back season after scoring 11 goals in 67 games last season.
“I came into this year with a mentality to jump back on the train and it was a hard year last year,” Mantha said. “I was focused, determined to step up this year and that’s what’s going on right now.”
Washington should be getting deeper coming out of the break as injured free-agent forward Max Pacioretty is close to joining the team and the official signing of free-agent defenseman Ethan Bear is imminent.
–Field Level Media
