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New York Rangers looking to end losing habit against slumping Caps

By Andrew Steele-Davis

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 20: Pavel Buchnevich #89 of the New York Rangers controls the puck during their game against the Washington Capitals at Madison Square Garden on November 20, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 20: Pavel Buchnevich #89 of the New York Rangers controls the puck during their game against the Washington Capitals at Madison Square Garden on November 20, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK, NEW YORK – NOVEMBER 20: Jacob Trouba #8 and Chris Kreider #20 of the New York Rangers exchange words with Alex Ovechkin #8 of the Washington Capitals during the third period of their game at Madison Square Garden on November 20, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – NOVEMBER 20: Jacob Trouba #8 and Chris Kreider #20 of the New York Rangers exchange words with Alex Ovechkin #8 of the Washington Capitals during the third period of their game at Madison Square Garden on November 20, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images) /

Let’s preface this by stating that every game is now a must-win for the New York Rangers who will need to pile on the slumping Washington Capitals tonight.

After dropping three straight, time is running out for the New York Rangers who can’t afford too many more slip-ups in their quest to return to the postseason.

The race for the playoffs was well and truly on after the Blueshirts ripped off nine wins from 10 outings, but the loss of Chris Kreider to a fractured foot knocked the wind right out of this young group.

In Kreider’s absence, the Rangers have now dropped three straight including both games of a home-and-home match-up to the surging Philadelphia Flyers, in addition to a tough loss against the St. Louis Blues on Tuesday.

As a result, the Rangers are very much on the outside looking in as we head down the stretch of the 2019-20 NHL regular season.

More from Blue Line Station

But, all is not lost and the Blueshirts can still pull off the unthinkable if they can steady the ship and go on another tear.

That must start tonight against a Washington Capitals team that has completely fallen off the cliff in recent weeks.

As if distracted by Alex Ovechkin‘s race to reach 700 career goals, the Caps are 6-9-1 in their past 16 games and they were dealt a crushing blow on Wednesday after being hammered by the Philadelphia Flyers.

They are losing their grip on the Metropolitan Division and will be a desperate hockey team tonight, as will the Rangers, which should make for a mouthwatering contest at Madison Square Garden.

This Season

Tonight’s match-up will be the third meeting between the New York Rangers and the Washington Capitals this year.

The Blueshirts lost the first contest after being crushed 5-2 at Capital One Arena on Oct, 18, although the Rangers did gain a measure of revenge by beating the Capitals 4-1 at MSG on Nov. 20, with Artemi Panarin lighting the lamp twice.

After tonight, the Rangers and the Capitals meet once more on Mar. 26, at Capital One Arena, in a game that could have serious postseason implications for both teams.

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