T-Mobile Arena will be the site for a divisional tilt as the Vegas Golden Knights take on the visiting Vancouver Canucks. Sportsnet 360 will showcase the action, which gets underway at 10 p.m. ET on Wednesday, October 24.
Vancouver Canucks at Vegas Golden Knights Odds
Vegas (-215) is currently favored over Vancouver (+180), and the Over/Under (O/U) is set at 6 goals. The line for betting the total stands at -115 money on the over and -105 on the under.
Vancouver is 5-4 straight up (SU) and has earned moneyline bettors 4.8 units this season. That winning percentage, the strongest in the Pacific Division so far in this young season, is a welcomed improvement over the 31-51 record from last year’s regular season campaign. Through nine regular season outings, five of its games have gone under the total, while four have gone over and none have pushed. This 2018-19 Canucks team is 3-3 SU on the road.
Vancouver has scored on 24.0 percent of its power play opportunities so far. That’s a noticeable improvement from last season, when it was ranked eighth in the NHL by scoring on 21.5 percent of its extra-man chances. Its penalty kill has also gotten stronger year-over-year, as the team’s gone from successfully defending 78.6 percent of all opponent power plays (ranked 21st overall last year) to 80.6 percent this year.
For the team as a whole, Vancouver has been whistled for penalties 4.9 times per game in the 2018-19 season, a number that’s regressed some from the 3.7 penalties per game given up last year. After serving an average of 8.7 penalty minutes per game a season ago the team has had to stave off opponent power plays for a noteworthy 12.2 minutes per outing this year.
Boasting a .914 save percentage and 27.8 saves per game, Anders Nilsson (3-2) has been the primary option in goal for Vancouver this season. If Vancouver chooses to rest him, however, head coach Travis Green may turn to Jacob Markstrom (2-2 record, .903 save percentage, 3.23 goals against average).
Elias Pettersson and Bo Horvat will both lead the way for the visiting Canucks. Pettersson (eight points) has tallied five goals and three assists this season while Horvat has five goals and two assists to his name through the early phase of the regular season.
Over on the other bench, Vegas is 4-4 straight up (SU) and has lost 1.3 units for moneyline bettors thus far. Five of its matches have gone under the total, while three have gone over and none have pushed. The team is 2-1 SU at home this season.
Vegas has scored on 8.3 percent of its power plays this year after converting on 21.0 percent (ranked 15th in league) last season. It has killed off a remarkable 82.6 percent of its penalties, compared to 81.3 percent a year ago (when it was ranked ninth in the NHL).
Vegas players have been penalized only 3.1 times per game this season, a number that’s improved from the 3.6 penalties per game given up last year. After serving an average of 7.9 penalty minutes per game a season ago the team’s had to stave off opponent power plays for 6.6 minutes per contest this year.
Marc-Andre Fleury (20.9 saves per game) has been the primary netminder in goal for Vegas. Fleury has four wins and three losses and has maintained a poor .901 save percentage and 2.45 goals against average this season.
The home team offense will be led by Jonathan Marchessault (five goals, five assists).
Vancouver Canucks at Vegas Golden Knights Free Picks
NHL Tip: SU Winner – Golden Knights, O/U – Over
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Notes
Betting Notes
The total has gone under in four of Vegas’ last five outings.
Vancouver has managed 27.2 shot attempts per game over its last five road games while Vegas is averaging 33.0 shots per game over its last five at home.
The Golden Knights are 1-2 SU when they serve more penalty minutes than their opponent while the Canucks are 5-1 SU in games where they spend more time in the box than the opposition.
After going 4-3 in games decided by a shootout last year, Vegas is off to a 1-0 start in shootouts this season. Vancouver went 0-5 in shootouts last year and has yet to participate in one this time around.
Vegas ranked second last year with 10.7 takeaways per game, but the team appears to be applying less pressure on opposing offenses to begin this season. It’s up to a ranking of 16th in the league with 7.5 takeaways per contest.
Vancouver skaters ranked 24th last year with 6.1 takeaways per game, but the team appears to be applying more intense pressure on opposing offenses to begin this season. It’s up to a ranking of eighth in the league with 9.0 takeaways per contest.
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