Rogers Arena will be hosting a Western Conference clash as the Vancouver Canucks face off against the visiting Nashville Predators. It’s the third and final time that the two clubs will meet in the regular season. The first puck will drop at 10 p.m. ET on Friday, March 2, and fans at home will be able to view it live on Sportsnet Pacific.
Nashville Predators vs. Vancouver Canucks Odds
Nashville is 40-23 straight up (SU) and has earned moneyline bettors 10.1 units this season. Through 63 regular season contests, 31 of its games have gone over the total, while another 31 have gone under and none have pushed. As an away team this season, the Preds are 18-13 SU.
Nashville has converted on 22.8 percent of its power play opportunities this season, a mark that’s good enough for fifth-best in the NHL. Its penalty kill is ranked 13th overall, and it has successfully killed off 82.1 percent of all penalties.
For the team as a whole, Nashville has been penalized 4.5 times per game overall this season, and 3.0 per game over its last five road outings. The team has had to kill penalties just 7.8 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
With a .927 save percentage and 29.4 saves per game, Pekka Rinne (34-13-4) has been the primary option in goal for Nashville this year. Rinne played last night, however, so Nashville might opt to rest him and turn to Juuse Saros instead (6-11-5 record, .926 save percentage, 2.39 goals against average).
The visiting Predators will be led by P.K. Subban and Viktor Arvidsson. Subban (48 points) is up to 15 goals and 33 assists, and has recorded two or more points 12 times. Arvidsson has 24 goals and 22 assists to his creditand has notched a point in 32 games.
On the other side of the ice, Vancouver is 24-40 straight up (SU) and has lost 9.2 units for moneyline bettors thus far. Through 64 regular season contests, 37 of its games have gone over the total, while 27 have gone under and none have pushed. This season, the team is 11-20 SU as the home team.
Vancouver has converted on 21.4 percent of its power play chances this year, a figure that’s good enough for eighth-best in the NHL. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 26th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 77.0 percent of all penalties.
Vancouver players have been whistled for penalties 3.9 times per game in total this season, and 4.6 per game over their last five at home. The team’s been forced to defend opponent power plays just 8.6 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Jacob Markstrom (25.6 saves per game) has been the top netminder in goal for Vancouver. Markstrom has 17 wins, 30 losses, and six overtime losses to his name and has registered a mediocre 2.76 goals against average and a fairly-weak .909 save percentage this season.
Brock Boeser (29 goals, 25 assists) will pace the attack for the Canucks.
Nashville Predators vs. Vancouver Canucks Betting Predictions
Free NHL Pick: SU Winner – Canucks, O/U – Over
Betting Trends
- Nashville is 5-5 in games decided by a shootout this season while Vancouver is 0-3 in shootouts.
- The over has hit in three of Vancouver’s last five outings.
- Five of Nashville’s last ten games have been decided by two goals or more. The team is 4-1 in those games.
