Rangers vs. Capitals: Lineups, storylines last clash before Christmas break
For the seventh time in 11 days, the New York Rangers play a game Tuesday, this time a road tilt against the Washington Capitals at Capital One Arena. However, after this Metropolitan Division clash, the Rangers schedule eases up with just one game in five days, thanks in large part to the three-day NHL Holiday break this week.
The Rangers (18-16-4) sure looked like a team in need of a break in their 2-1 road loss to the Nashville Predators on Sunday. An already fatigued lineup was further depleted by injury and illness with five regulars missing.
In fact, the freshest player on the ice for the Rangers was their oldest one. Jonathan Quick, their 39-year-old goalie, stopped 30 of 31 shots before Nashville potted an empty-netter in the final minute. The Rangers avoided their eighth shutout loss of the season when Jonny Brodzinski scored off his own rebound with 36 seconds to play.
Already without Adam Fox and Adam Edstrom, each currently on LTIR, the Rangers placed J.T. Miller on injured reserve with an upper-body issue. The Rangers captain is week to week with the injury.
Forwards Gabe Perreault and Matt Rempe missed the game Sunday due to illness. Each took part in the morning skate Tuesday.
Despite all those obstacles, the Rangers must come up with a big effort Tuesday. It’s an important contest against a division rival that sits three points ahead of the Rangers and has two games in hand. The Capitals blanked the Rangers 1-0 in their first meeting on Oct. 12 at Madison Square Garden.
After his 35-save shutout that night, Capitals goalie Charlie Lindgren proclaimed that the Rangers are “going to be a tough out this year.”
What Lindgren and most everyone else didn’t foresee was how badly the Rangers would struggle offensively this season. They’re currently tied for last in the NHL, averaging 2.50 goals per game. New York’s scored two goals or fewer 21 times, and been shut out on seven occasions, in 38 games
The Capitals (19-12-5) are 10th in the League in scoring (3.17 goals per game), but slowed considerably with 16 goals in their past eight games. That coincides with a recent slide, when the Capitals are 2-3-3 after a rousing six-game winning streak. They were swept in a home-and-home set against the Detroit Red Wings this past weekend, including a 3-2 overtime loss Sunday.
3 storylines when Rangers visit Capitals
1. Elite goalie matchup
Two of the best goalies in the NHL go head-to-head Tuesday. Igor Shesterkin is the Rangers starting goalie, making his League-leading 30th start. Seven days shy of his 30th birthday, Shesterkin is 15-11-3 and just one win off the most in the NHL. He’s allowed two goals or fewer goals 15 times, second most in the League. His 15.5 goals saved above expected ranks seventh among all goalies this season, per MoneyPuck.
However, the top goalie on that list is Logan Thompson, who gets the starting nod for the Capitals on Tuesday. In 25 games, he has a whopping 25.2 goals saved above expected and also leads the NHL with a 2.09 goals-against average. Thompson likely will be one of Canada’ goalies at the 2026 Milan/Cortina Olympics.
2. It’s not just Ovi
Alex Ovechkin keeps adding to his all-time NHL goals record — his 14 goals this season have him sitting at 911 entering play Tuesday. Forty-six of those goals are against the Rangers. At age 40, the Great 8 is second on the Capitals in goals and points (31). Ovechkin remains an elite threat, even though he’s pointless and minus-6 in his past four games, and without a goal in eight straight.
But he’s not the only Caps player to be concerned about. Rugged forward Tom Wilson leads Washington with 17 goals, six power-play goals, and 34 points. The 31-year-old is averaging nearly 20 minutes of ice time per game, and he’s under consideration for a spot on Canada’s roster for the Olympics. Like Ovechkin, he’s slowed a bit recently, with just three assists in his past seven games.
Jakob Chychrun is tied for the NHL lead among defensemen with 14 goals, and tied for eighth with 28 points. It’s the third straight season that the 27-year-old scored at least 14 goals. He had an NHL career-high 20 last season, third most among League defensemen.
3. Carson Soucy milestone
Rangers defenseman Carson Soucy plays his 400th NHL game Tuesday. The 31-year-old is in his seventh season in the League, and also played for the Minnesota Wild, Seattle Kraken, and Vancouver Canucks, from whom the Rangers acquired Soucy last season ahead of the 2025 NHL Trade Deadline.
Soucy didn’t exactly distinguish himself with the Rangers after they traded for him. But he settled in nicely this season, quietly playing a very effective all-around game on the second defense pair with his partner Will Borgen. That pair regularly plays against top-six forward groups, which makes the fact that the Rangers hold a 19-13 goals advantage with Soucy on the ice 5v5 even more impressive.
Soucy’s contributed three goals and six points in 34 games, and his plus-8 rating is best on the Rangers. Even though his underlying numbers aren’t great, per Natural Stat Trick, Soucy remains a key member of New York’s top four on defense.
New York Rangers projected lineup
Artemi Panarin — Mika Zibanejad — Alexis Lafreniere
Will Cuylle — Vincent Trocheck — Gabe Perreault
Jonny Brodzinski — Noah Laba — Taylor Raddysh
Brennan Othmann — Sam Carrick — Matt Rempe
Vladislav Gavrikov — Braden Schneider
Carson Soucy — Will Borgen
Matthew Robertson — Scott Morrow
Igor Shesterkin
Jonathan Quick
Rangers vs. Capitals: When, where, what time, how to watch
Who: New York Rangers vs. Washington Capitals
When: Tuesday, Dec. 23 at 7 p.m. ET
Where: Capital One Arena
How to watch: MSG 2
