Ottawa Senators vs. Vancouver Canucks Prediction, NHL Odds
The Canucks and Senators will finish a two-game set in Vancouver on Saturday, before the series shifts to Ottawa for another two-game set on Monday and Wednesday. The Sens blanked Vancouver 3-0 on Thursday in the first of four straight games between these teams.
Vancouver is a -149 favourite to win on the NHL odds for this game, with the total set at 6.0.
Senators vs. Canucks Betting Analysis
Ottawa has struggled against the Canucks in the past, posting a 1-5 straight up record against Vancouver in the last six meetings between these teams. As an underdog in every game this season, the Sens have been a decent cover option, going 28-19 against the spread. Ottawa has fallen short of the total in 11 of their last 16 games.
The Canucks have been very comfortable at home against Ottawa, going 5-1 SU in their last six games against the Sens in Vancouver. They’re 19-21 ATS and have covered in 13 of 23 home games this season. The total has gone Under in Vancouver’s last five games against Ottawa.
Ottawa Senators
Matt Murray stayed hot in Thursday’s win, stopping 31 shots to earn his second shutout in less than a week. Murray should get the nod again on Saturday, as he’s hit another level since returning from a month-long upper-body injury earlier in April. The 26-year-old is 3-0-1 in four starts since his return to the lineup and he’s posted two shutouts and a .957 save-percentage over that time. In three starts versus Vancouver this season, Murray is 1-2-0 with a 3.67 goals-against average and .879 SV.
Tim Stutzle and Drake Batherson both found the back of the net on the power play in the first period on Thursday, while Connor Brown added the empty-netter. It was Brown’s team-best 17th goal of the season. Stutzle is fourth in rookie scoring with 25 points (8G, 17A) in 44 games.
Vancouver Canucks
Vancouver was due to drop an egg eventually after a long COVID layoff. There were some positives to take away for Canucks fans though, as Vancouver outshot the Sens 31-25 and really only lost this game because of the first period. Thatcher Demko is expected to get the start again on Saturday, after stopping 22 shots on Thursday in his first game action since March 24. Demko has established himself as Vancouver’s No. 1 goalie this season. He’s 12-13-1 with a 2.74 GAA and .917 SV. Against the Sens this year, Demko has gone 4-1-0 with a 1.58 GAA and .956 SV.
It was recently announced the Canucks are expected to be without Antoine Roussel for around two weeks. The 31-year-old forward left Tuesday’s game against Toronto with a lower-body injury.
OTT
VAN