Ottawa Senators vs. Vancouver Canucks Prediction, NHL Odds
The Ottawa Senators and the Vancouver Canucks conclude a three-game series at Rogers Arena on Thursday night, in the second of a back-to-back. The Canucks are -169 favourites to win on the NHL odds with a total of six goals.
Senators vs. Canucks Betting Analysis
On the puckline, Ottawa is -173 at +1.5 goals and Vancouver is +144 at -1.5. On the regulation time result prop, the Canucks are -114 to win, the Senators are +214 to win and a draw is +354. Vancouver is -143 to score first and Ottawa is +102. The over is a slight -114 favourite on the total.
This is Vancouver’s second straight three-game home set; the Canucks lost two of three games, last week, to Montreal, while Ottawa played three in a row against Winnipeg, last week (two at home, one on the road), and lost them all.
There continues to be rumours that Senators coach D.J. Smith is on a very hot seat as the Senators enter Thursday on a six-game losing streak and easily have the worst goal differential in the NHL at minus-16. Smith took over before last season and has a record of 26-39-13.
Vancouver has won six of the past seven in the series and the over is 5-1 in the previous six games between these teams.
Ottawa Senators
While Ottawa was terrible from the outset in Monday’s 7-1 loss in Vancouver, the Senators played a terrific first period in Wednesday’s 5-1 loss. The game was 1-1 after one period (Ottawa outshot Vancouver 24-7), thanks to a power play goal from the Sens’ Josh Norris, his second goal of the year. Alas, things went downhill from there.
Smith made some changes to the lineup Wednesday by inserting centre Colin White and defenceman Braydon Coburn into the lineup, while winger Cedric Paquette returned from injury. Blueliner Christian Wolanin suffered a lower-body injury in the game. Marcus Hogberg allowed five goals on 35 shots and presumably it will be Matt Murray back in there Thursday. Murray, the former Penguin, is 1-3-1 on the season with a 4.47 goals against average, after allowing seven goals on Monday. Ottawa is 16-40 in the second game of their last 56 back-to-backs.
Canucks
J.T. Miller was the No. 1 star on Wednesday, with two goals (first two of season) and an assist. Tyler Motte had two goals (up to five) and Elias Pettersson also picked up his second goal of the season on the power play, along with an assist. It was the first multiple-point game of the season for Pettersson, who also hit a post and a crossbar on his nine shots. Quinn Hughes and Jay Beagle each had two assists.
Thatcher Demko stopped 42 of 43 shots but Braden Holtby should get the start on Thursday. Holtby, the former Capitals goalie, is 2-2-0 with a 3.70 GAA this season, but he hasn’t been in net since a 5-2 home loss to Montreal on Saturday. Vancouver is 11-5 in its past 16 as a home favourite.
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