Arizona Coyotes vs. Vancouver Canucks Prediction, NHL Odds
The Canucks return to action after closing out a four-game road trip with a 4-2 loss in Nashville last Tuesday, and have posted just two wins in seven outings. The Coyotes resume their schedule with a two-game road trip, and will be searching for just their second win in their past eight contests.
Vancouver is a -253 favourite to win on the NHL odds, with a total of 5.5.
Coyotes vs. Canucks NHL Betting Odds
Backed by just eight per cent of sports bettors, the Coyotes have faded to +206 underdogs after opening at +202. The Canucks have improved to strong -253 favourites. The total remains unchanged since opening at 5.5, with the UNDER favoured with -117 odds despite attracting just 28 per cent of bets.
Tuesday night’s matchup at Rogers Arena marks the first meeting between these clubs since March 2020. The Coyotes have claimed victory in nine of 12 dates with the Canucks since January 2017, including wins in four of six visits to Vancouver. The Canucks have consistently struggled on offence when facing Arizona, scoring an average of just two goals over their past 12 clashes. However, that has failed to generate a steady trend in puck totals betting, with the OVER and UNDER taking turns paying out over their past seven meetings.
Both these teams return to action for the unofficial second half of the NHL season in desperate need of a turnaround. The Coyotes have tallied consecutive wins just once during a dismal 7-17-2 run, and have been defeated by multi-goal margins on five occasions during their current 1-6-0 slide. The Canucks have lost nine of their past 14, and top only Arizona, Montreal, and Buffalo with just eight home victories this season.
Arizona Coyotes
Now embroiled in a two-way race with the Montreal Canadiens for the bottom of the NHL league standings, there is little reason for fans of the Coyotes to be hopeful. The club has surrendered a whopping 90 total shots on goal over their past two outings, and have allowed an average of 39.6 shots over their past five outings. With goaltender Scott Wedgewood injured, Karel Vejmelka is expected to get the start on Tuesday. The 25-year-old has regularly been under siege, and allowed 19 total goals over his past four starts. However, he has still compiled a respectable .918 save percentage over his past two starts, capped by a 46-save performance in 4-2 loss to Calgary last Wednesday.
Vancouver Canucks
Tuesday’s date with the fast-fading Coyotes provides the Canucks with an opportunity to revitalize their offence. After potting just five total goals over their past three overall outings, and just four total markers during their three-game home slide, the Canucks now rank a distant 28th in the league in goals scored per game. Complicating matters for the club is their ongoing battle with COVID-19. Star defenceman Quinn Hughes is the latest player to join the COVID list. In addition, the status of Elias Pettersson remains uncertain after he missed Monday’s practice due to a non-COVID-related illness. However, the Canucks have received steady netminding performances from expected starter Thatcher Demko, who has allowed an average of just two goals over his past four starts.
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