Arizona Coyotes vs. Vancouver Canucks: NHL Odds, Prediction
The Vancouver Canucks wrap up their home schedule for the 2017-18 season Thursday night against the Arizona Coyotes as the teams battle to stay out of the Pacific Division cellar.
Coyotes vs Canucks Betting Analysis
It would be better for the Canucks to finish with fewer points than the Coyotes for NHL draft lottery purposes in the Rasmus Dahlin sweepstakes. Neither can “catch” Buffalo for the fewest points in the league, however. The draft lottery will take place April 28.
Fourth and final meeting between these division rivals. Odd scheduling by the league that they didn’t play for the first time until Feb. 25. Arizona leads the season series 2-1 (all low scoring) and won in Vancouver by a 2-1 score on March 7. Derek Stepan scored the winner at 19:02 of the third.
Daniel Sedin (2G) and Troy Stecher (2A) lead Vancouver with two points each vs. Arizona this season. The Canucks have scored only four goals. Bo Horvat is without a point. Jacob Markstrom is 1-2-0 with a 1.36 goals-against average and .960 save percentage.
Stepan (1G, 2A), Brendan Perlini (3A) and sensational rookie Clayton Keller (1G, 2A) lead the Coyotes with three points each vs. Vancouver. Darcy Keumper, a midseason trade acquisition from Los Angeles, has started all three in net and is 2-1-0 with a 1.35 GAA and .944 SV.
Arizona Coyotes
The Coyotes (29-40-11) have been playing much better hockey since about mid-February – they were 10-28-9 at one point. Some good young talent on this team, led by Keller. The 2016 No. 7 overall pick leads the club in goals (23), assists (41) and obviously points (64) and was the NHL Rookie of the Month for March. Arizona enters having won two straight and four of five. They won 4-1 in Calgary on Tuesday behind a goal and assist from Kevin Connauton. The defenceman has 10 goals in 30 games since the All-Star break.
Antti Raanta was the NHL’s second star for last week and continued his hot play by allowing one goal on 43 shots vs. the Flames. This is Arizona’s final road game; it concludes the season Saturday vs. Anaheim.
Vancouver Canucks
Earlier this week, future Hall of Famers Henrik and Daniel Sedin announced they would be retiring after this season and this is their home sendoff so it should be an emotional night. The Canucks traded for the No. 2 overall pick in the 1999 draft from Atlanta to select Daniel at that spot and took Henrik at No. 3. Henrik is the franchise leader in games played, assists and points. Daniel leads in goals. The only thing missing from their CVs is a Stanley Cup championship.
The Canucks (30-40-10) had their four-game winning streak snapped in a 5-4 home shootout loss to Pacific Division champion Vegas on Tuesday. Vancouver was down 4-1 early in the third but tied it on Nikolay Goldobin’s second goal of the game at 10:53. Markstrom allowed four goals on 39 shots but was beaten for the winner in the shootout by Shea Theodore.
