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Rangers vs. Capitals prediction: Why Washington is favored to win Wednesday's NHL matchup [12/31/2025]
Updated: | First published:
Written by Nick Slade, Chief Content Officer
Get NY Rangers vs Washington Capitals predictions for NHL Wednesday.
The Washington Capitals will face the NY Rangers in NHL action at Capital One Arena on Wednesday, commencing at 12:30 PM ET.
Based on updated simulation results, Dimers' proven NHL model predicts the Capitals as the most likely winner of the Rangers vs. Capitals game.
This article offers a closer look at Wednesday's matchup, including projected goal scorers, best bets and player prop picks.
Rangers vs. Caps prediction: Who will win and cover?
Using powerful machine learning and data, we have simulated the result of Wednesday's NHL matchup between the Rangers and Capitals 10,000 times as part of our NHL predictions coverage.
Our independent predictive model gives the Capitals a 56% chance of beating the Rangers.
According to our model, the Rangers (+1.5) have a 65% chance of covering the puck line, while the over/under total of 5.5 goals has a 52% chance of going over.
Rangers vs. Capitals odds
We have sourced the best NHL odds in America for this game, which are listed here:
| Bet Type | Rangers | Capitals |
|---|---|---|
| Puck Line | +1.5 (-190) | -1.5 (+160) |
| Moneyline | +130 | -152 |
| Total | o5.5 (-120) | u5.5 (+100) |
All odds are correct at the time of publication and are subject to change.
Rangers vs. Capitals picks and best bet
After matching our predictions against the best current odds, we can reveal our picks for each of the major markets. Plus, find our best bet for the game below:
| Bet Type | Pick | Bet Now |
|---|---|---|
| Puck Line | Rangers +1.5 | -190 |
| Moneyline | Rangers | +130 |
| Total | Under 5.5 | +100 |
According to our NHL best bets, the top play to make on this game is Rangers to win.
Rangers vs. Capitals player props
Who will score a goal in Rangers vs. Capitals?
According to our model, Artemi Panarin is most likely to score an anytime goal in Rangers vs. Capitals.
Our projections give Panarin a 38.1% chance of scoring a goal at Capital One Arena, while the star is an 8.4% chance of netting the first goal the game.
Anytime goal scorer predictions
NY Rangers
| Player | Anytime Goal Probability |
|---|---|
| Artemi Panarin | 38.1% |
| Mika Zibanejad | 27.8% |
| Vincent Trocheck | 27.3% |
| Will Cuylle | 24.4% |
| Alexis Lafreniere | 23.1% |
Washington Capitals
| Player | Anytime Goal Probability |
|---|---|
| Alex Ovechkin | 31.0% |
| Tom Wilson | 30.7% |
| Dylan Strome | 26.8% |
| Aliaksei Protas | 26.8% |
| Connor McMichael | 22.0% |
First goal scorer predictions
NY Rangers
| Player | First Goal Probability |
|---|---|
| Artemi Panarin | 8.4% |
| Vincent Trocheck | 5.7% |
| Mika Zibanejad | 5.6% |
| Will Cuylle | 4.3% |
| Alexis Lafreniere | 4.0% |
Washington Capitals
| Player | First Goal Probability |
|---|---|
| Tom Wilson | 6.2% |
| Alex Ovechkin | 6.0% |
| Aliaksei Protas | 5.5% |
| Dylan Strome | 4.7% |
| Connor McMichael | 4.7% |
Rangers vs. Caps game-day updates and essential details
Wednesday's matchup between the Capitals and Rangers at Capital One Arena is scheduled to begin at 12:30 PM ET.
- Who: NY Rangers vs. Washington Capitals
- Date: Wednesday, December 31, 2025
- Time: 12:30 PM ET/9:30AM PT
- Venue: Capital One Arena
Conclusion
We predict the Capitals, with a 56% win probability, will likely beat the Rangers on Wednesday.
AI and automation have enhanced this article to quickly deliver accurate Rangers vs. Capitals insights, with human oversight ensuring high editorial quality. Our predictions are drawn from up-to-date data to help you make informed decisions. For additional resources and advice on responsible gambling, please call 1-800-GAMBLER.
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Nick Slade, with nearly two decades of experience, is the Chief Content Officer at Cipher Sports Technology Group, overseeing content for Dimers. He specializes in soccer, NBA, and NHL betting, leveraging predictive analytics and machine learning to provide accurate betting insights.
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