Capitals vs. Rangers: The best player prop bets for Feb. 24

Two teams near the top of the Metropolitan Division will face off at Madison Square Garden on Thursday night as the Washington Capitals visit the New York Rangers.

Hockey fans will get a chance to see the Capitals’ Alex Ovechkin take on the Rangers’ Chris Kreider on national television as their battle for the Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy continues in this one.

Let’s look at the assorted player props available in this contest and highlight our three favorites.

Washington Capitals (28-15-9) at New York Rangers (32-13-5), 7:00 p.m. ET, ESPN

Alex Ovechkin to score at least one point

It’s been a season full of incredible, record-setting moments for Ovechkin, but the Rangers should be able to keep him quiet on Thursday night.

“Ovie” has scored 10 fewer points in two fewer games on the road than he has at home this season. He’ll also have to deal with a potential Vezina Trophy finalist between the pipes in Igor Shesterkin – who is 3-0-1 with a 1.45 GAA and .954 save % over his last four games – and a Norris Trophy-winning defenseman in Adam Fox in this one.

Ovechkin has been held off the scoresheet in five of his last eight games, so it’s not like it can’t be done, and the price is more than fair.

NHL pick: No (+186)

Chris Kreider goal scorer

The Blueshirts are 2-0-1 since the All-Star break, but shockingly, leading goal-scorer Chris Kreider has failed to score a point. This is only his second three-game stretch of the campaign without scoring a goal, so he seems due here.

Kreider has scored 17 of his 33 goals this season on the power play, and New York takes on a modest Washington penalty kill that’s 17th in the NHL at 79% effectiveness. Since the start of February, the Caps have surrendered eight power play goals on 25 chances, for a 32% opponent success rate on the man advantage.

Thursday night looks like a golden opportunity for Kreider, as well as his backers.

NHL pick: Kreider anytime goal (+125)

To score most points: Mika Zibanejad vs. Evgeny Kuznetsov

Mika Zibanejad is the favorite in this head-to-head points matchup with Evgeny Kuznetsov, but calling this one in favor of the former looks much easier to do than a coin-flip.

Zibanejad has been hot since the start of 2022, notching 24 points over 18 games. He was held without a tally in only three of those tilts, and six of those games resulted in multiple points for the Swedish-born sniper.

Kuznetsov, on the other hand, has failed to record a point in three straight games, accumulating just three shots on goal in that span. His home/road splits are discouraging as well, as he has only 18 points in 23 road games, compared to 30 points in 26 home games.

NHL pick: Zibanejad (-143)