The Canucks return to Vancouver fat and happy after posting weekend road victories against the Golden Knights and Sharks. This will be their third game in four days and first home matchup in eight days. Vancouver opened its just completed three-game road trip with a huge underdog victory against the Avalanche.

So, yes, the Canucks are playing well. But this is a good ambush spot for the frustrated Capitals.

Washington is off to a slow start, but showed signs of building momentum winning two in a row before losing the opener of a six-game road trip, 5-1, to the red-hot Devils. The Capitals fired 38 shots on goal in that game - the most the Devils had faced all season - and had good scoring opportunities.

Star defenseman John Carlson returned Nov. 11 after missing six games and the Capitals are a better team because of that.

Vancouver is 3-12 in its last 15 games versus Eastern Conference opponents. Washington has defeated the Canucks five of the past six times it has visited Vancouver. Capitals goalie Darcy Kuemper is 12-6-1 with a 2.32 goals against average and .921 save percentage lifetime against the Canucks.