Ottawa Senators vs. Vancouver Canucks Prediction, NHL Odds
After suffering the worst COVID outbreak in the NHL this season, Vancouver has stormed back from their shutdown to beat the North Division leading Toronto Maple Leafs twice. The Canucks will look to continue those winning ways on Thursday when they host the division’s last placed team, the Ottawa Senators.
Vancouver is a -142 favourite to win on the NHL odds with a total of 6.0.
Senators vs. Canucks Betting Analysis
If this game goes like any of the previous meetings between these teams this season, the Senators are in trouble. Vancouver has won all five games in this season series and outscored Ottawa by a combined score of 22-7 over that span.
It’s been a tough season for Ottawa and despite losing five straight games against Vancouver, it’s worth noting these teams have only met twice outside of January and both games needed overtime or a shootout to solve. The Sens have surprised some teams and as a result have been a decent cover option, going 27-19 against the spread this year. They’ve been an Under team in 10 of their last 15 games.
The Canucks have been much more comfortable at home this season. They’re 11-9-2 in Vancouver and both of their wins since returning from their shutdown have been at home. The Canucks are 19-20 ATS and have covered in 13 home games. Four of their last five games against Ottawa has seen the total go Under.
Ottawa Senators
Matt Murray is finally starting to look like the goalie Ottawa was hoping for when they signed him in the off-season. The two-time Stanley Cup winner stopped 26 of 28 shots on Monday, helping the Sens pick up a 4-2 win in Calgary. Murray has started three straight games since returning from an upper-body injury that kept him out of the lineup for a month. Over those three starts, Murray has posted a 1.68 goals-against average and .942 save percentage, stopping 81 of 86 shots faced.
Connor Brown (2G) and Josh Norris (1G, 1A) each had two-point nights against Calgary. Norris’ 29 points (13G, 16A) on the season ties him for the team-lead with Brady Tkachuk (15G, 14A). Norris is also third in the NHL rookie point race and fourth in rookie goals. Brown leads the Sens with 16 goals and has put up 27 points on the season.
Vancouver Canucks
In their return against division-leading Toronto, oddsmakers everywhere had Vancouver pegged as one of the biggest NHL underdogs in years. Not only did the Canucks end up winning that game, they followed it up with a second win over the Leafs two days later. Braden Holtby was stellar between the pipes in both games against Toronto, making 74 saves over the two wins. It’s unclear if Holtby or Thatcher Demko will get the start on Thursday. After not being cleared to return in the first Toronto game, Demko served as the backup on Tuesday. With Holtby elevating his game to a higher level it would make sense for Vancouver to start him again and ease Demko back into the lineup, but it’s a situation worth monitoring as it gets closer to puck-drop.
Brock Boeser will likely be a big factor in this game. He picked up two assists in Tuesday’s 6-3 win. Boeser leads the team with 36 points and is tied with Bo Horvat for the team-lead in goals with 16. Horvat was the hero in Sunday’s 3-2 win, picking up two goals, including the OT winner.
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