Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Vancouver Canucks Prediction, NHL Odds

Edgar Chaput | Updated Dec 07, 2024

NHL: Columbus Blue Jackets at Vancouver Canucks

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On Sunday afternoon the Vancouver Canucks will continue their extended home stand when they host the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Tampa Bay
24-16-2-1
AT
December 08, 2024, 4:00 PM ET
Rogers Arena
Vancouver
19-15-9-1
Puckline -1.5 +200
Moneyline -115
Over / Under o +6
Matchup Odds
Puckline +1.5 -250
Moneyline -105
Over / Under u +6
Matchup Odds

The Tampa Bay Lightning embark on the annual Western Canadian road trip, with their first stop being in B.C. against the Vancouver Canucks. The latter rewarded their fans with a 5-2 win at home on Friday over the Columbus Blue Jackets. The Lightning bid farewell to their supporters by gifting them an 8-1 destruction of the San Jose Sharks on Thursday.

Our NHL odds believe that the Canucks will get the job done, pinning them as -129 moneyline favourites. The Lightning are +110.

Lightning vs. Canucks NHL Betting Odds

The Floridian side has utterly dominated the last 10 meetings between these sides. Jon Cooper’s units are a collective 8-2 against the Canucks since 2018. That said, Vancouver split the 2023-24 season series. The last five winners (Tampa four times and Vancouver once) have scored at least four goals in every game.

The Lightning are still trying to make do without the services of superstar Nikita Kucherov, who remains listed as Day-to-Day. Things have been a little shaky this season, which might be expected after the departure of franchise legend Steven Stamkos. Even in their last seven, the club is only 3-4-0. Performances against the puck line haven’t been this season special either, what with a 10-14-0 tally.

Canucks players are returning from injury at just the right time. Vancouver remains within striking distance of the Golden Knights in the Pacific Division and has a six-game homestand that will last until Dec. 16. Only Filip Hronek (lower body) remains on long-term injured reserve (LTIR). Maybe it’ll help the team improve on its good but not great 14-13-0 ATS record.

Of note: Tampa Bay sports the second-best attack in the NHL (3.92 goals per game), whereas Vancouver only has the 22nd-ranked goals against average (3.12).

Tampa Bay Lightning

If ever there was a way to cap off a homestand before far-off travels, having the Sharks at home is one of them. The Lightning executed a disintegration of San Jose on Thursday in a game that was ostensibly over after the first 20 minutes.

When Cam Atkinson (third) tipped in Conor Geekie’s shot from the point at 1:26 of the first period, little did observers know that that was the opening of the proverbial floodgates. 16 minutes later, when Jake Guentzel (11th, power play) at 17:45, it was a 5-0 game. Geekie had already made it 2-0 and Brandon Hagel earned himself a brace (11th, 12th).

Rather than rest on their laurels, the hosts kept piling on the misery, with Anthony Cirelli (11th) and Nick Perbix (third) netting in the middle frame and Nick Paul (sixth) scoring in the third for an 8-1 final.

Victor Hedman is on a four-game point streak and Guentzel has registered at least a point in four of his past five.

Vancouver Canucks

For 12 minutes of Friday’s game versus Columbus, it looked as if the Canucks’ perplexingly mediocre home play would persist. Bad coverage and sluggish legs allowed the Blue Jackets to race out to a 2-0 advantage.

But the Canucks would turn the tide in the second period, starting with a Quinn Hughes-to-Brock Boeser (seventh) connection at 3:52 to make it 2-1. That was the opening Vancouver needed, and although some of the final stats didn’t make them resemble world-beaters (only 17 shots on target), the club rallied for two points. Kiefer Sherwood levelled the terms just before the period ended by sending the puck into a semi-wide net after Columbus’ keeper misplayed it and was caught yonder outside his crease.

Vancouver’s pressure paid off in the final frame, with Pius Suter (10th) and Jake DeBrusk (12th, power play) making it 4-2 and allowing their side to breathe easier. It could have been a more lopsided final were it not for some stupendous saves by Elvis Merzlikins. Suter (11th) made it a 5-2 final with an empty netter.

NHL Prediction: Who Will Win Lightning vs. Canucks?

NHL Predictions
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  • TB
  • -115 -105
  • VAN
Matchup NHL Odds