Anaheim Ducks vs. Vancouver Canucks Prediction, NHL Odds
This is just the second of four matchups between these teams this season, as Vancouver aims to notch their second straight win over Anaheim following their 5-4 victory in November. Let’s get into our Ducks vs. Canucks preview and prediction.
Ducks vs. Canucks NHL Betting Odds
The Ducks have posted a winning record when it comes to the puckline, as they are 27-25. They are -1.5 in this game, with odds at +165. Meanwhile, the Canucks are 24-29 on the puckline this season, and their +1.5 comes with -200 odds in the game.
Anaheim is 28-25 on the money line this season, and is listed as the favourite ahead of this matchup at -140. As for Vancouver, they are 17-36 on the money line, with +120 odds for the game. The game total is set at 6.5 goals and the over is juiced to -125, which makes sense considering the Ducks are 34-19-0 to the over, while the Canucks are 29-22-2.
Elias Pettersson (+150) has the shortest odds to score in this game, but he has not scored in seven outings. Brock Boeser (+175) is next for Vancouver, but in the midst of concussion protocol, he is uncertain to play. Meanwhile, Cutter Gauthier (+165) and Chris Kreider (+170) lead the way for the Ducks, and Beckett Sennecke (+175) had a hat-trick just two games ago.
Anaheim Ducks
The Anaheim Ducks (28-22-3) are coming off a tough 7-4 loss to the Edmonton Oilers, but this came after an extremely strong seven-game winning streak, which included four road games. I really like how they are playing, finally relocating the high-energy game that drove their success earlier in the season.
Anaheim will be without some key forwards in this game, with Leo Carlsson, Troy Terry, Mason McTavish, and Frank Vatrano all set to miss this contest. Petr Mrazek is out, as well. However, this remains a high-flying team that should fare well against a Canucks squad that seems to have major holes in all aspects of the game and are dealing with major injuries themselves.
The Ducks certainly cooled off for a prolonged stretch, but are now well within the hunt. They are third in the Pacific Division, but are also just four points from the division lead. I expect the team to realize what’s in front of them, and get going early on.
Vancouver Canucks
The Vancouver Canucks (17-31-5) are in the absolute depths in the NHL and are on pace to finish last by a long shot. Their 39 points is last by a whopping eight-point margin, and at this point of the season, they will continue to sell assets and stockpile futures – which they have already started doing by trading captain Quinn Hughes and Kiefer Sherwood.
Vancouver comes into this one with the third-worst offence in the NHL, averaging 2.58 goals per game. They also have the league’s worst penalty kill of 70.1%, which is well over 7% worse than Anaheim’s rate of 77.5%. The numbers don’t lie; a hungry and surging Ducks team battling for the playoffs will not give anything easy to them.
Starting goaltender Thatcher Demko has officially been shut down for the season, and concern is now growing for his future in the league. Among his absence are new additions Zeev Buium and Marco Rossi, along with Derek Forbort. Brock Boeser and Nils Hoglander are currently questionable. When it rains it pours.
NHL Prediction: Who Will Win Ducks vs. Canucks?
With the direction the Canucks are heading, it is hard to see them winning this one, even on home ice. The fact they have traded multiple key players and are faced with a ton of injuries does not bode well for them against Anaheim. This roster just does not pose any threat, especially to a team gunning for the playoffs. The Ducks should have no issues here, winning 6-1.
