Predators vs. Canucks Game 1 Prediction, Stanley Cup Playoff Odds
The Canucks opening as -145 favourites on the NHL odds.
Predators vs. Canucks NHL Betting Odds
Nashville and Vancouver are two of a handful of franchises yet to win a Stanley Cup. Doubt that changes for the Predators this year. Their only Stanley Cup Final appearance was a six-game loss in 2017 to Pittsburgh. Vancouver is 0-3 in the Final, last there in 2011 and losing in seven to Boston.
To win the West, Nashville is +1800 and is +4000 for the Cup, with Vancouver at +800 and +1500, respectively. The Canucks won the season series 3-0 and held the Predators to two goals in each. Hard to make too much of all that, though, as the teams haven’t played since mid-December.
Blueliner Quinn Hughes led Vancouver with six points in the series, all assists. Elias Pettersson (4G, 1A) had five points. Thatcher Demko started in two and had a 2.00 goals-against average and .915 save per centage. Tommy Novak (2A) and Colton Sissons (2A) led the Preds with two points each. No. 1 goaltender Juuse Saros started in two and had a 4.81 GAA and .833 SV.
On the series line, Vancouver is -150 and Nashville +125. The favoured exact result is Canucks in seven at +400, while the longshot is a Predators sweep at +1300. That it goes seven games is the favourite at +195. The teams have met in the playoffs once previously, a Vancouver six-game win in 2011.
Nashville Predators
The Predators had an eight-season streak of missing the playoffs end last year when they finished the regular season with 92 points. That led to the firing of Coach John Hynes and the hiring of Andrew Brunette as his replacement this offseason. Brunette, who scored Nashville’s first-ever goal in 1988, is the fourth head coach in franchise history. Under him, the team improved to 99 points, good for the West’s top wild-card spot. Winger Filip Forsberg led the club with 48 goals (team record) and 94 points. Former Norris Trophy winner Roman Josi remains one of the top offensive blueliners in the league as he was second on the team with 85 points and first with 62 assists. Juuse Saros is the clear No. 1 goaltender and was 35-24-5 with a 2.86 GAA and .906 SV. From Feb. 17 until April 15, the Predators owned the second-most wins (20) and points (43) in the NHL. During that span, they outscored their opponents 106-71, the second-highest differential in the league. Nashville to win Game 1 and the series is +270.
Vancouver Canucks
Vancouver had a two-game winning streak snapped in a 4-2 loss in Winnipeg on Thursday, but that game was meaningless and both sides rested several key players to ensure health for the start of the postseason. Normally, Canucks No. 1 goaltender Thatcher Demko likely would not have taken the ice, but he needed the work after just returning from a fairly long injury absence in the previous game. Demko might have been in the running for the Vezina Trophy if not for missing 14 games with a knee issue. Demko finished 35-14-2 with a 2.45 GAA, .918 SV and five shutouts. His only playoff action came in 2020 in the first round against Vegas when Demko was 2-1 with a 0.64 GAA and .985 SV. J.T. Miller led the Canucks with 103 points this season and was named team MVP. Quinn Hughes is going to win the Norris Trophy as he led all NHL defencemen with 92 points and was fourth in the league with a plus-38 rating. Vancouver to win Game 1 and the series is +130. I believe it will do both.
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