ARLINGTON, VA — The Washington Capitals (2-1-0) will continue a three-game homestand on Friday, starting the weekend with a game against their rival New York Rangers.
After finishing last in the Eastern Conference last season, the Rangers are off to a hot start this fall, leading the NHL with a 4-1-0 record through their first five games.
“They’re playing well,” said Capitals head coach Spencer Carbery. “We’ll have our hands full tonight at home, definitely.”
Since losing their season opener to the Boston Bruins, the Rangers have won four consecutive games, beating the Tampa Bay Lightning 5–1, Detroit Red Wings 2–0, Utah Mammoth 4–2, and New York Islanders 5–2. The streak has been aided by some milestone moments and big individual performances: Igor Shesterkin scored the first goalie goal in Rangers history against Tampa Bay, rookie Dylan Garand recorded his first NHL shutout in Detroit, and Alexis Lafrenière erupted for a hat trick and four points against the Islanders.
“I think they’re doing a good job as a group,” Carbery said. “They obviously have one of the top goaltenders in the world, but I think from forwards to D, to their tracking, to their commitment to defend, I think it’s coming from everybody in their room.”
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Capitals injury updates
Washington will go without defensive stalwart Matt Roy once again when they face New York. After sustaining a lower-body injury against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday, Roy will miss his second straight game for the Capitals. Roy made some progress in his recovery on Friday, however: per the team, he skated on his own for the first time since getting hurt before the Caps’ morning skate.
“(He’s) coming along,” said Carbery. “I don’t think it’s getting worse. It’s coming along slowly, but still day-to-day.”
Goaltenders
Logan Thompson will take the net against the Rangers: per the New York Post’s Mollie Walker, he’ll line up opposite Igor Shesterkin. Shesterkin has allowed just seven goals in five games this season, and he even scored one of his own against the Tampa Bay Lightning on October 1.
“(Shesterkin is) always part of our pre-scout because he plays the puck so well, whether he’s scoring or not,” said Carbery. “He’s like a third defenseman out there when it comes to breakouts, so we always talk about that. I would put him right up there with the Joel Hofers, Jordan Binningtons of the world, of their ability to play the puck. So you have to pre-scout for that. You have to make sure our guys are aware of that.”
Projected lineup
After beating the Pittsburgh Penguins 5-3 on Wednesday, the Capitals are expected to play the same lineup against the Rangers.
Capitals lines
Rangers lines
Per Walker, here’s how the Rangers lined up at practice on Thursday.
Fun factoids
- Tonight marks the 52nd anniversary of the first game in Washington Capitals history. On Oct. 9, 1974, the expansion Caps debuted at Madison Square Garden. Jim Hrycuik scored the Capitals’ first goal in team history, giving the team a 1-0 lead, but they ultimately lost 6–3 by night’s end. The teams have met 10 times in the playoffs, including five since 2009. The Rangers swept Washington in their most recent postseason meeting in 2024. Before that, the 2012, 2013, and 2015 series all went seven games
- Friday night’s matchup marks the two teams’ 252nd regular-season meeting. The Capitals hold a 122-103-18-8 record in those games.
- We’re one day away from another anniversary. Nearly 21 years ago, Alex Ovechkin scored career goal No. 3 against the Rangers’ Kevin Weekes on Oct. 10, 2005 — just five days after his two-goal NHL debut against the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Puck drop is set for 7 pm. In addition to airing on Monumental Sports Network, the game will be broadcast nationally on NHL Network.
