This is a 10* TOTAL OF THE MONTH on the OVER Capitals/Rangers.

The Captials have been alternating OVERs and UNDERs over their last six games. Washington comes in off a 3-0 home loss to Pittsburgh, two nights after falling 5-4 in OT to the Pens.

Clearly Washington will be out to get back into the winners circle here with only a week remaining in the regular season.

The Rangers have seen the total go UNDER in three straight, but after back-to-back shutout losses to the Islanders, clearly they'll also be out to atone and get back on track here.

Motivationally speaking, these are two desperate and hungry offenses that are coming out and playing with collective chips on their shoulders tonight.

Also note that the Rangers have seen the total go OVER in eight of their last 11 after getting shutout in their previous outing.

Everything points to a wide-open shootout, rather than a slower-paced defensive affair.

The play is the OVER.

Good luck, NP