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The New York Rangers (26-12-2, 54 points, 1st Metro), leaders of the Metropolitan Division, pay a visit to the nation's capital on Saturday and Capital One Arena to play division rival the Washington Capitals (19-14-6, 44 points, 7th Metro), who are seventh. New York was defeated by the St Louis Blues 5-2 on Thursday night and the Rangers have lost three straight. Washington was defeated by the Seattle Kraken 4-1 on Thursday night and the Capitals have lost seven of the last nine. New York will play without Kaapo Kakko and C Filip Chytil, while both Tyler Pitlick and Mika Zibanejad are day-to-day. Washington will play without RW Tom Wilson, LW Sonny Milano, D Rasmus Sandin and C Nicklas Backstrom.
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New York is averaging 3.33 goals per game which is 10th best in the NHL and average 31.4 shots per game which is 13th best. New York is winning 54.2% of its face-offs, which is third in the NHL. The Rangers are first on the power play, scoring 30% of the time with the man advantage. Artemi Panarin is the stats king for New York, leading the Rangers in goals (26), assists (32) and points (58). Chris Kreider is second in goals scored with 20 and second in assists with 28 is Vincent Trocheck, who is also second in points with 41.
New York has a goals against average of 2.88, which is 10th best in the NHL and are allowing an average of 29.5 shots per game which is 9th. The penalty kill unit for New York is fifth best, as the Rangers hold opponents scoreless 84.3% of the time New York is short-handed. New York goa lie Igor Shesterkin is 16-10-0 with a 2.98 goals against average and .901 save percentage. New York has lost three of the last four games that Shesterkin has been in goal.