Canucks vs. Predators Game 6 Prediction: Stanley Cup Playoffs Odds
The Preds are -130 favourites to win on the NHL odds to extend the series again.
Canucks vs. Predators NHL Betting Odds
If there is a Game 7 in this first-round playoff series, it would be Sunday in Vancouver. With the Canucks’ lead down to 3-2 following the 2-1 loss on Tuesday, they are now -350 on the series line (were -1000 entering Game 5) with the Predators +275 (were +600). To win the West, Vancouver is +750 (was +600) and Nashville +3000 (was +5500).
Vancouver is 4-0 in the Music City this season, winning two in the regular season and then Games 3 and 4 each by a goal. The big question for Game 6 is definitely which goaltender Canucks coach Rick Tocchet decides to go with between Arturs Silovs or Casey DeSmith with No. 1 Thatcher Demko not close to a return from injury.
It will absolutely be Juuse Saros in net again for the Predators. They have forced a Game 6 after facing a 3-1 series deficit for the third time in franchise history after doing so in the 2011 conference semifinals (lost in six to Vancouver) and the 2015 first round (lost in six to Chicago). The Canucks are 7-2 all-time in a series when leading it 3-2.
Vancouver Canucks
Coach Rick Tocchet opted to go with Arturs Silovs for a second straight game in net Tuesday even though Casey DeSmith was cleared to play after missing Game 4 with an undisclosed injury. We can’t say it was the wrong decision as Silovs was quite good in the 2-1 loss. Still, it seems likely to be back to DeSmith in Game 6. He is 1-1 in the series with a 2.02 GAA and .911 SV. Nikita Zadorov had the lone Vancouver goal in Game 5, his second of the series, for a 1-0 lead early in the third, but Silovs couldn’t hold it. He was looking to become the first goaltender in Canucks history to win each of his first two career postseason games. The NHL’s last rookie netminder to do it was New Jersey’s Akira Schmid last year. Zadorov joined Troy Stecher (two in 2020) as the second Canucks blueliner in the past 10 years with multiple goals in a single series. Fellow defenceman Quinn Hughes had a helper on the lone goal and has five assists in the series. That has tied his and Alexander Edler’s team record for a blueliner in a single series.
Nashville Predators
In reality, Nashville should be up 3-2 but utterly collapsed in Game 4. Defenceman Roman Josi tied Tuesday’s Game 5 at 1-1 with his first goal of the series at 7:15 of the third, and fellow blueliner Alexandre Carrier (first of series) had the eventual game-winner at 12:46. Josi, Vancouver’s Quinn Hughes and Colorado’s Cale Makar this week were named finalists for the Norris Trophy. Josi and Makar both have won the award, but Hughes is the favourite this time. The goal was Josi’s 12th career in the playoffs, tying Viktor Arvidsson for seventh in franchise history. Carrier became the fifth defenceman in the past 20 years league-wide to have his first playoff goal stand as the game winner in a potential elimination game. Another defenceman, Luke Schenn, was out with an illness. Tyson Barrie replaced him and had an assist. Tuesday was Nashville’s second third-period comeback win in a potential elimination game in franchise history, following Game 6 of the 2016 second round vs. San Jose.
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