Columbus at Washington

Last place Columbus isn't getting it done on offense at #23 in the league in goals scored. At least the defense has picked up, riding a two-game win streak allowing a total of four goals as part of a 4-1 run UNDER the total. New Blue Jackets coach John Tortorella has always preached defense first and the team is buying into it. Columbus is off a 3-1 win at New Jersey despite a season-low 14 shots. They never let up the defensive intensity and were rewarded with three straight goals in the third period to improve to 2-1-0 on a four-game trip and since Tortorella replaced Todd Richards on the bench. Washington is playing good defense, too, while winning five of six, allowing two or fewer goals four times. Washington goalie Braden Holtby has a 1.61 GAA in his last five starts and the Caps are on a 12-4-1 run UNDER the total. They are also 4-0 UNDER at home. Take Columbus/Washington to finish UNDER the total.