The set-up: The 12-14-2 Vancouver Canucks are currently on a five-game road swing along the East Coast and after losing 4-1 to Florida last night, jet up to Washington for a 5:00 ET start to take on the 16-7-3 Capitals. Washington is coming off a 4-1 win at Buffalo on Friday and returns home where the Caps are 10-4-0 on the season.

Vancouver: Captain Henrik Sedin notched his sixth point in six games Saturday with an assist and trails his twin brother Daniel (19 points) by one for the team scoring lead. Vancouver is battling injuries between the pipes, as goaltender Ryan Miller is sidelined with a lower-body ailment suffered in Thursday's victory at Tampa Bay. Backup Jacob Markstrom started against the Panthers and made 38 saves but took the 4-1 loss. The Canucks are just 4-9-1 on the road so far this season.

Washington: The Capitals have earned 35 points but that's still just good enough for fifth place in the highly competitive Metropolitan Division. Washington is beginning to heat up offensively, having scored 11 goals combined in three straight victories.
No. 1 netminder Braden Holtby figures to get the start Sunday, with each game critical for Washington thanks to its position in the red-hot Metropolitan Division.

The pick: The road has not been kind to the Vancouver Canucks and an early start to the second game of a back-to-back against the Capitals, could leave them a step behind. Jacob Markstrom filled in for Miller on Saturday but rookie Thatcher Demko, could make his NHL debut on Sunday in this quick turnaround. Washington has beaten Vancouver four straight times and will likely make it five in a row here plus expect some scoring. The Over is a 10* play.