Vancouver Canucks vs. Pittsburgh Penguins Prediction, NHL Odds
The Canucks cruised to a 2-0 win in Boston on Tuesday in the second game of a five-game road trip to take over third spot in the Pacific Division. It’s been a different story for the Penguins, who found a new low in a 6-1 blowout loss against Utah on Saturday. Pittsburgh now sits dead last in the Metropolitan Division and lead only Montreal in the Eastern Conference standings.
Vancouver is a -125 favourite to win on the NHL odds, with the total set at 6.5.
Canucks vs. Penguins NHL Betting Odds
These teams generally play close games, with the last four contests decided by a single goal and two of those games going to overtime. This concludes the season series after the Canucks won 4-3 on home ice on October 26. Vancouver scored all four goals in a five minute span during the second period.
The Canucks have been lethal on the road this season, going 8-1 away from Vancouver compared to 3-5-3 at Rogers Arena. Pittsburgh hasn’t generated much momentum with a 4-6-2 home record, including five losses in their last six games at PPG Paints Arena.
The Canucks also beat out the Pens when it comes to paying bettors as they are 11-9 against the spread while Pittsburgh has failed to cover in 15 of 23 games.
There’s not much of a trend when it comes to the total as both teams have nearly split the Over/Under evenly this season. If you look at the head-to-head series, however, the Over has hit in four straight games.
Vancouver Canucks
Jake DeBrusk notched a goal and an assist in his return to Boston on Tuesday, while Conor Garland added an empty net goal. Kevin Lankinen made 32 saves for his second shutout of the season. DeBrusk, who spent the first seven seasons of his career with the Bruins before signing a seven-year contract with Vancouver in the off-season, is one of seven Canucks players who share the team lead with six goals each. One of those players, J.T. Miller, remains away from the team for personal reasons, but there’s been word he could return soon after Vancouver’s road trip.
With Lankinen playing on Tuesday, Arturs Silovs is expected get his first start since November 19. Silovs allowed four goals on 33 shots against the Rangers in that game, suffering his fourth loss in five starts this season. The 23-year-old earned a two-year contract after backstopping the Canucks in the playoffs last year, but it’s been a tough start to the year as he has a bloated 3.91 goals-against average and .857 save percentage.
Pittsburgh Penguins
Sidney Crosby became just the 21st player in NHL history to score 600 career regular season goals on Saturday, but the moment was overshadowed in a blowout loss at home. Crosby, who has seven goals in his last 12 games, has been one of the lone bright spots for Pittsburgh this season as the Pens look destined to miss the playoffs for just the third time in Crosby’s career. Crosby (8G, 13A) and Evgeni Malkin (5G, 15A) are No. 1 and 2 in points on the team, but Pittsburgh is averaging just 2.52 goals per game (26th) while allowing a league-high 3.96 goals per game.
Alex Nedeljkovic was tagged for all six goals on 30 shots in Saturday’s loss. It could be Tristan Jarry in net on Wednesday. Jarry is easily having the worst season of his career and he was even demoted to the AHL at one point. The 29-year-old is 1-3-1 with a 4.41 GAA and .869 SV while allowing at least three goals in every game this season.
