Rangers vs. Capitals: Lineups, storylines with Adam Fox game-time decision
For the second time in eight days, the New York Rangers pay a visit to Capital One Arena to face off against the Washington Capitals, this time in a New Year’s Eve matinee Wednesday afternoon.
Also, the Rangers (19-17-5) should have one of their most indispensable players back in the lineup this time. Stalwart defenseman Adam Fox expects to return after he missed the previous 14 games with an upper-body injury.
Fox is a game-time decision, per coach Mike Sullivan. But all signs point to his return, after the 27-year-old took all the reps at practice Tuesday next to his top-pair partner Vladislav Gavrikov, and as the quarterback on the top power-play unit.
The Rangers are 6-5-3 without Fox in the lineup, including an exciting 7-3 win against the Capitals last Tuesday. Vincent Trocheck and former Capitals forward Taylor Raddysh each had two goals and one assist in that one, when the Rangers scored five times in the third period to overcome a 3-2 deficit.
However, New York lost two straight (0-1-1) since then, including 3-2 in overtime against the Carolina Hurricanes on Monday. The Rangers let a third-period lead slip away, and then sealed their fate when Jackson Blake scored a power-play goal in OT.
Washington won its next game after that bad finish against New York, but is just 2-5-2 in in the past nine games, including a 5-3 loss to the Florida Panthers on Monday.
This is the third of four meetings in the season series. The Rangers were shut out 1-0 by Charlie Lindgren in the first meeting Oct. 12 at Madison Square Garden. The teams play once more at MSG on April 5.
3 storylines when Rangers visit Capitals
1. Rangers get ‘difference-maker’ back in their lineup
Assuming Fox plays Wednesday, the Rangers get one of their most important players back in the lineup. Despite missing 14 games, Fox is second on the Rangers with 23 assists and third with 26 points in 27 games. His 23:50 average TOI is two seconds behind Gavrikov, whose played major minutes in Fox’s absence.
“When ‘Foxy’ is in our lineup, he’s a difference-maker. He’s a very difficult guy to replace on so many levels,” Sullivan said Tuesday. “He had a great start to our season — on the power play, the way he drives offense, our ability to get out of our end, and I don’t think he gets enough credit for how well he defends.”
Braden Schneider shifts back to his third-pair role on defense, and rookie Scott Morrow loses his spot in the lineup. Gavrikov, who scored his first career power-play goal Monday, gets bumped to the second PP unit with Fox back at the point on PP1.
2. Second half begins
Before the calendar flips to 2026, the Rangers begin the second half of their schedule, becoming the first team in the NHL to do so. They’ve played more games than any other team in the League — and in many cases three or more. As of Tuesday, their .524 points percentage has the Rangers sitting 16th out of 16 teams in the tight Eastern Conference.
Though they’re in the middle of the playoff race right now, that could change should some teams in the mix string together wins with their games in hand on the Rangers. So, if you think it’s been a nerve-wracking first 41 games, be prepared for things to ratchet up in the second half.
“I think it’s been a mixed bag,” Sullivan said, reflecting on the first half of the season. “We’re right in the thick of it. I think we’re capable of being better. I think there’s another level we’ve got to push ourselves to get there.”
3. Timely reunion
It seems quite fitting that Gabe Perreault of the Rangers and Ryan Leonard of the Capitals catch up and play against one another at the same time the 2026 World Junior Championship is underway. The rookie forwards were linemates at the past two World Junior tournaments, helping the United States win the gold medal in consecutive years.
The good friends also were teammates and played on the same line for two years at Boston College, and before that with the United States National Team Development Program.
Leonard, the No. 8 overall pick in the 2023 NHL Draft, is fifth among NHL rookies with 20 points (seven goals, 13 assists) in 32 games. Perreault, who had an assist against the Capitals last week, has four points (one goal, three assists) in eight games with the Rangers. The No. 23 overall pick in the 2023 draft spent most of this season in the minors, where he leads Hartford of the American Hockey League with 10 goals and 17 points in 20 games.
New York Rangers projected lineup
Artemi Panarin — Mika Zibanejad — Alexis Lafreniere
Jonny Brodzinski — Vincent Trocheck — Gabe Perreault
Will Cuylle — Noah Laba — Taylor Raddysh
Conor Sheary — Sam Carrick — Matt Rempe
Vladislav Gavrikov — Adam Fox
Carson Soucy — Will Borgen
Matthew Robertson — Braden Schneider
Jonathan Quick
Igor Shesterkin
Rangers vs. Capitals: When, where, what time, how to watch
Who: New York Rangers vs. Washington Capitals
When: Wednesday, Dec. 31 at 12:30 p.m. ET
Where: Capital One Arena
How to watch: MSG
