Two clubs squaring off for the first time this year, the Vancouver Canucks and the Anaheim Ducks clash at the Honda Center for a Pacific Division showdown. The match will get going at 10 p.m. ET on Thursday, November 9, and fans at home can watch the game live on Sportsnet Pacific.
Vancouver Canucks at Anaheim Ducks Odds
Anaheim (+130) is currently the underdog to Anaheim (-150), and the oddsmakers have put the Over/Under (O/U) at 6 goals. The line for betting that total stands at -130 for the under and +110 for the over.
Vancouver is 8-7 straight up (SU) and has netted 3.3 units for moneyline bettors this year. Through 15 regular season matches, eight of its games have gone under the total, while seven have gone over and none have pushed. This 2017-18 Canucks team is 5-1 SU on the road.
Vancouver has converted on 16.4 percent of its power play chances this year, a figure that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 22nd out of 31 teams, and the team’s successfully killed off 79.6 percent of its penalties.
Vancouver, as a collective unit, has been penalized 4.1 times per game this season. Last year, that number was the fourth-lowest mark in the league at 3.2 penalties per game. After serving an average of 7.9 penalty minutes per game a year ago, the team’s been forced to stave off opponent power plays for a taxing 11.2 minutes per matchup this season.
Averaging 25.8 saves per game with a .917 save percentage, Jacob Markstrom (5-7-2) has been the top option in goal for Vancouver this year. If it chooses to rest him, however, the team might turn to Anders Nilsson (3-1 record, .943 save percentage, 1.89 goals against average).
Brock Boeser and Bo Horvat will both look to continue their strong seasons for the visiting Canucks. Boeser (14 points) has tallied five goals and nine assists, and has recorded multiple points in three different games. Horvat has six goals and seven assists to his nameand has registered at least one point in six games.
Anaheim is 6-9 straight up (SU) and has lost 3.1 units for moneyline bettors thus far. Through 15 regular season contests, eight of its games have gone under the total, while seven have gone over and none have pushed. It’s 3-6 SU at home this year.
Anaheim has converted on just 10.6 percent of its power play opportunities this season, a figure that places it in the bottom overall among NHL teams. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked sixth overall, and it’s successfully killed off 85.1 percent of all penalties.
Anaheim players have been sent to the penalty box 5.3 times per game this season. Last year, that number was at 4.6, the worst mark in the league. After serving an average of 12.0 penalty minutes per game a season ago the team has been forced to kill penalties for 13.1 minutes per outing this year.
John Gibson (28.8 saves per game) has been the top option in goal for Anaheim. Gibson has five wins, eight losses, and two OT losses to his name and has registered a .914 save percentage and 2.97 goals against average this season.
The home team offense will be led by Rickard Rakell (six goals, five assists).
Vancouver Canucks vs. Anaheim Ducks Betting Predictions
Predictions: SU Winner – Ducks, O/U – Over
Betting Trends:
- The total has gone over in three of Anaheim’s last five games.
- Vancouver has managed 30.6 shot attempts per game over its last five road games while Anaheim is averaging 34.8 shots per game over its last five home outings.
- The Ducks are 6-3 SU when they serve more penalty minutes than their opponent while the Canucks are 4-2 SU in games where they serve more minutes than their opponent.
