Ottawa Senators vs. Vancouver Canucks Prediction, NHL Odds
Ottawa will look to sweep the regular season series after a 2-1 victory against Vancouver in January.
These franchises are headed in different directions, but make no mistake, we should be in for two respectable efforts. How will this game play out? It is almost time to find out.
Senators vs. Canucks NHL Betting Odds
Ottawa comes into this contest as heavy favourites. On the money line, they sit at -220 while Vancouver sits at +180. Ottawa is 28-34 on the puck line, while Vancouver is 29-34. Neither have been too strong in the market, and the current puck line has Ottawa -1.5 at +115 and Vancouver +1.5 at -135.
Within the goal totals market, the Senators are 35-26-1 to the over, while their counterpart Canucks are 34-26-3. Both teams are used to high-scoring affairs, which is why this game total is set at 6.5 goals, +100 for the over and -120 for the under. With Ottawa’s red-hot offensive results, we may be in for a big result.
With Vancouver’s lack of scoring talent and results, the goalscoring odds are filled with Senators at the top of the list. Leading the way is Brady Tkachuk (+155), Tim Stutzle (+165), and Drake Batherson (+220). My eyes are on Batherson, who scored four goals in two games prior to his current two-game drought. Brock Boeser (+250) leads in goalscorer odds for the Canucks.
Ottawa Senators
The Ottawa Senators (31-22-9) currently sit sixth in the Atlantic Division, but they are still well within reach of a playoff spot this season. They are tied with the fewest number of games played in the Eastern Conference (62), but in that position, they must make those games count. A poor opponent like Vancouver is two points that are right for the taking, and I don’t see them slipping up.
Ottawa has looked excellent of late, riding a two-game winning streak, and posting a 4-0-2 record over their last six. This is the type of sustained success the team is desperate to see. They have scored at an average of roughly 5.00 goals per game over their last four games, and have an excellent opportunity to continue this against a team that gives up 3.71 goals per game and has a 70.3% penalty, both ranking at the bottom of the NHL.
On Saturday night, stud defenceman Jake Sanderson left the game with an upper-body injury, and his status is unknown for this game. However, Ottawa is fully healthy otherwise, and are equipped with a skilled and gritty roster that highly outmatches their opponents in Vancouver.
Vancouver Canucks
The Vancouver Canucks (19-36-8) remain in the depths of the NHL with 46 points. They are 1-5-3 in their last nine contests, which is on par with how their overall season has gone. As expected, there are no home ice advantages for this squad, as they are 6-19-5. They are also just 8-17-3 against the Eastern Conference.
Quinn Hughes, Kiefer Sherwood, Tyler Myers, and Conor Garland are major players who have been traded this season, so the path is clear for this organization. Starter Thatcher Demko is also out for the season, with his final game being on January 10. There is a clear lack of depth in this lineup – one that Ottawa should have no issues with.
NHL Prediction: Who Will Win Senators vs. Canucks?
The Ottawa Senators are fighting for their playoff lives, and still have a long way to go. They cannot afford to take a night off, so Vancouver could be tasked with taking down a team at their highest efforts. With those high efforts in Ottawa comes a team who is highly talented offensively, has been seeing some consistent improvement on the defensive side of things, and have earned points in six-straight games. When all is said and done, I expect a 4-1 win for the Ottawa Senators.
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