Posted at 11:15 AM EST odds are subject to change.

Pinnacle   -½ +114 BET365   -½ +110   SportsInteraction  -½ +110  888Sport  -½ +100

N.Y. Rangers -½ +114 over Washington

1:07 PM EST. Regulation only. The Capitals are selling at the trade deadline for the first time since Alex Ovechkin’s rookie year more than 15 years ago. The Bruins acquired defenseman Dmitry Orlov and forward Garnet Hathaway from the Caps on Thursday in exchange for forward Craig Smith and three draft choices. “This trade allows us to acquire draft capital, infuse youth and restock our system,” general manager Brian MacLellan said. “While this season has proven challenging with injuries to our significant players, we are in a position to use some of our current assets to retool our club and build a competitive team moving forward.” Now, we’re not saying the Caps are throwing in the towel but it’s not the best message to send to the current vets and the rest of the squad that are just two points out of a playoff spot heading into this one.

It’s a mad scramble for the two Wild Card spots, as six teams (Islanders, Sabres, Red Wings, Panthers, Penguins, Caps) all battle for two playoff spots. Seven teams if we include Ottawa, who are just four points back of Washington. In any case, the message sent by the front office is not a positive one.

We also have to wonder if Alex Ovechkin’s heart is in this thing. Dude has done it all. He has a Cup. He recently passed Gordie Howe for goals scored and is now second all-time behind Wayne Gretzky. He’s been through a highly emotional two weeks or more, as he attended his dad’s funeral in Russia and returned on Thursday when Washington hosted the Ducks. By his own admission, AO said, “it was the toughest thing he’s ever gone through”.

The Caps have scored two goals or less in six of their last seven. They have a lousy seven wins in 21 games versus top-10 competition and the Rangers qualify as such. They built that weak record when they were fully engaged and playing well, which is not their current situation or form. Washington has dropped six straight and has two wins over their last nine, one of which was an OT victory against Columbus.

We absolutely love that the Rangers have lost three in a row while scoring two goals or less in all three games. Call it a slump if you like but we’ll call it nothing but three games of unfortunate puck luck, as New York completed dominated both Winnipeg and Detroit in its last two games, outshooting that pair by a combined 82-43. When you fire 83 shots on net, you’re supposed to score more than twice. A correction to the good is forthcoming and it very likely occurs here.

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