NHL play on Wednesday includes the Washington Capitals (20-14-5) hosting the New York Rangers (19-17-5) at Capital One Arena, starting at 12:30 p.m. ET on ESPN+. The Capitals are seventh in the Eastern Conference (45 points), and the Rangers are 11th in the Eastern Conference (43 points).
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Capitals vs. Rangers: Dec. 31 Viewing Options
- Date: Wednesday, December 31, 2025
- Time: 12:30 p.m. ET
- How to watch on TV: ESPN+
- Location: Washington D.C.
- Venue: Capital One Arena
- Live Stream: Watch this game on ESPN+
- Live Stream: Watch this game on Fubo (Regional restrictions may apply)
Capitals' 2025-26 Stats
| Stat | Per-Game Average | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Goals Scored | 3.18 | 10th |
| Goals Allowed | 2.74 | 8th |
| Shots | 29.2 | 7th |
| Shots Allowed | 27.7 | 13th |
| Power Play % | 15.18% | 30th |
| Penalty Kill % | 76.61% | 26th |
Rangers' 2025-26 Stats
| Stat | Per-Game Average | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Goals Scored | 2.54 | 31st |
| Goals Allowed | 2.68 | 7th |
| Shots | 25.6 | 28th |
| Shots Allowed | 28.3 | 19th |
| Power Play % | 19.00% | 17th |
| Penalty Kill % | 80.51% | 15th |
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Capitals vs. Rangers Top Players
Capitals
- With 19 goals and 18 assists this season, Tom Wilson is one of Washington's top contributors (37 points).
- Alexander Ovechkin is another of Washington's major contributors currently with 33 total points (15 goals and 18 assists) to his name.
- Through 37 games, Dylan Strome has proven himself as a contributor for Washington. He has 31 points (eight goals and 23 assists).
- As Washington's top goalie, Logan Thompson has recorded 15 wins and 10 losses this season while giving up 64 goals with 688 saves.
Rangers
- Artemi Panarin has scored 14 goals (0.3 per game) and put up 25 assists (0.6 per game), contributing to the New York offense with 39 total points (1.0 per game). He averages 3.0 shots per game, shooting 11.6%.
- Mika Zibanejad has totaled 29 total points (0.7 per game) this campaign. He has 12 goals and 17 assists.
- Adam Fox's three goals and 23 assists add up to 26 points this season.
- Igor Shesterkin is 16-12-4 this season, compiling 813 saves and allowing 81 goals (2.5 goals against average) with a .909 save percentage (21st in the league).
Capitals vs. Rangers Injury Report
Capitals
Pierre-Luc Dubois: Out (Abdomen)
Rangers
Adam Fox: Day-To-Day (Upper Body),
Adam Edstrom: Out (Lower Body),
Jonathan Tanner Miller: Out (Upper Body)
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Capitals' Schedule
| Date | Opponent | Score | Home/Away |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12/23/2025 | Rangers | L 7-3 | Home |
| 12/27/2025 | Devils | W 4-3 | Away |
| 12/29/2025 | Panthers | L 5-3 | Away |
| 12/31/2025 | Rangers | - | Home |
| 1/1/2026 | Senators | - | Away |
| 1/3/2026 | Blackhawks | - | Home |
| 1/5/2026 | Ducks | - | Home |
Rangers' Schedule
| Date | Opponent | Score | Home/Away |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12/23/2025 | Capitals | W 7-3 | Away |
| 12/27/2025 | Islanders | L 2-0 | Away |
| 12/29/2025 | Hurricanes | L 3-2 | Away |
| 12/31/2025 | Capitals | - | Away |
| 1/2/2026 | Panthers | - | Away |
| 1/5/2026 | Mammoth | - | Home |
| 1/8/2026 | Sabres | - | Home |