Washington at Vancouver

The Vancouver Canucks had the best regular season in the NHL last year, but lost to the Bruins when their offense betrayed them in the Finals. They went scoreless in two of the last four games, which proved decisive against their challenge. That offensive drought has followed them into the 2011-12 campaign as the Canucks have failed to score a single goal in three of their last seven and that makes five shutouts in 14 games putting them at under .500 to open the season. The Caps are playing great hockey with just a single loss and have been locking down opponents to the tune of eight goals allowed in their last six games or just a stingy 1.5 per contest. The Caps, after allowing two or less in their previous game, are 43-15-1 to the UNDER in their last 59. By the same token the Canucks are 23-6-2 in their last 31 vs. an opponent that allowed two or less in their last outing. UNDER is the pick in this one.