Rangers vs. Canucks NHL Odds, Prediction and Picks: Rangers Look to Stay Hot Out West
The Vancouver Canucks aim to snap a brutal six-game losing streak with their first home victory in almost six weeks when they host the resurgent New York Rangers on Friday night in NHL betting action at Rogers Arena. The Canucks’ freefall continued with Monday’s 3-1 defeat at the hands of the visiting Philadelphia Flyers, and have now fallen to defeat in 16 of 17 contests since the first week of the campaign. The Rangers wrap up a three-game Western road trip in Vancouver after topping Calgary 3-1 on Wednesday night to improve to 2-1-0 on their current junket and 4-1-0 in their past five overall.
The Rangers get set to hit the ice as lofty -225 road favourites on Friday’s NHL odds. The Canucks trail as +185 underdogs, and the total is listed at 6.5.
Rangers vs. Canucks NHL Betting Odds
The Rangers rolled to a decisive 6-2 victory when the Canucks visited Broadway on October 11, and have now earned the win in seven of nine head-to-head clashes including four straight victories in Vancouver. The Blueshirts have claimed victory by multi-goal margins in each of their past four wins over the Canucks and have averaged four goals per game during their current 4-0-0 run at Rogers Arena. The Canucks have mustered just 11 total goals while losing four of five overall to New York. However, the OVER has consistently paid out when these teams meet, going 8-2 in their past 10.
It has quickly devolved into a lost season for the Canucks, who are now buried at the bottom of the NHL league standings with a dismal 3-16-1 record. Vancouver shooters have potted just 13 total goals during the team’s six-game slide and have scored more than two goals just three times during their demoralizing 1-15-1 run, and just 2.29 goals per game during their seven-game home slide. The Canucks’ toothless attack is further complicated by a league-worst 4.50 team goals against average, with Vancouver netminders trailing only the slumping Toronto Maple Leafs while allowing 519 total shots on goal through 20 games.
Conversely, the Rangers are enjoying a turnaround, winning four of five while allowing just 10 total goals after losing six of their previous seven while allowing almost five goals per game. The Rangers’ success on their current road trip also marks a reversal in fortune after going 1-5-1 through their first seven away contests. Fast starts have been crucial to New York’s success, with the club going 11-1-0 when scoring first and 0-7-1 when conceding the opening goal. The Canucks, meanwhile, have allowed the first goal in 13 of 20 games, losing 11 of those contests in regulation.
New York Rangers
Mika Zibanejad emerged as the hero in Calgary on Wednesday, potting a pair of goals and has now recorded two goals and four assists over his past five games. Alexis Lafreniere leads the club with nine goals, while defenceman Adam Fox has compiled a team-high 22 points.
The loss of star goalie Igor Shesterkin to a season-ending injury has not hurt the Rangers defence. Rookie Dylan Garand has impressed in 12 starts, posting a 2.48 goals-against average, .905 save percentage and one shutout, while Joonas Korpisalo has tallied a pair of wins since his recent return from injury.
Vancouver Canucks
The Canucks have failed to win any of the 15 games in which they have scored three goals or fewer, going 0-14-1, and have also been held below 25 shots in 14 of their 20 contests, going 1-12-1 in those games. Monday’s 3-1 loss to Philadelphia highlighted the club’s deepening woes. Vancouver managed just six shots through 40 minutes before Jonathan Lekkerimäki scored a third-period power-play goal. But the Flyers ultimately prevailed despite registering only 17 shots.
Lekkerimäki has emerged as one of the few positives on this squad. The 22-year-old scored seven times and recorded 15 points to date and has picked up at least a point in six of nine home appearances. Elias Pettersson has remained productive, collecting 20 points through 20 games, while Brock Boeser has been Vancouver’s top scorer, contributing three goals and two assists over the past five games.
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