Two teams facing each other for the second time this year, the Vancouver Canucks and the expansion franchise Vegas Golden Knights take the ice at T-Mobile Arena in a Pacific Division tilt. The action will get underway at 10:30 p.m. ET on Friday, February 23, and fans at home can witness the game live on Sportsnet Pacific.
Vancouver Canucks vs. Vegas Golden Knights Odds
With a moneyline of -260, Vegas enters the contest as the substantial favorite. The line for Vancouver sits at +220 and the Over/Under (O/U) has been set at 6 goals (-110 for the over, -110 for the under).
Earning 21.6 units for moneyline bettors, Vegas is 40-20 straight up (SU) overall thus far. Through 60 regular season outings, 34 of the team’s games have gone over the total, while 24 have gone under and just two have pushed. The team is 23-7 SU at home this season.
The Golden Knights have been able to convert on 21.9 percent of their power play chances this season, a figure that places them in the top-10 among NHL teams. On the other hand, their penalty kill is rated 16th overall, and they’ve successfully killed off 81.4 percent of all penalties.
As a team, the Golden Knights have been penalized just 3.2 times per game overall this season, and 2.4 per game over their last five at home. The team’s had to defend opposition power plays for just 6.5 minutes per game over their last 10 outings, overall.
Averaging 28.1 saves per game with a .930 save percentage, Marc-Andre Fleury (20 wins, nine losses, and two OT losses) has been the primary goalkeeper for the Knights this season. If the Knights, however, decide to give him a breather, head coach Gerard Gallant could go with Malcolm Subban (12-4-4 record, .912 save percentage, 2.59 goals against average).
The Knights will continue seeking offensive production via Jonathan Marchessault and David Perron. Marchessault (59 points) has tallied 21 goals and 38 assists and has recorded two or more points on 18 separate occasions this year. Perron has 14 goals and 41 assists to his credit and has notched at least one point in 37 contests.
Over on the other bench, Vancouver is 23-37 straight up (SU) and has lost 6.8 units for bettors taking the moneyline this year. Through 60 regular season contests, 35 of its games have gone over the total, while 25 have gone under and none have pushed. As the road team so far, the Canucks are 12-18 SU.
The Canucks have converted on 21.1 percent of their power play chances this season, a mark that’s good enough for 10th-best in the NHL. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked 27th overall and it’s successfully killed off 76.8 percent of all opponent power plays.
Vancouver’s skaters have been penalized 3.9 times per game in total this season, and 3.2 per game over their last five on the road. The team has had to kill penalties 8.8 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Jacob Markstrom (2.78 goals against average and .908 save percentage) has been the main option in goal for Vancouver. Markstrom is averaging 26.3 saves per game and has 16 wins, 27 losses, and five OT losses to his credit.
Brock Boeser (27 goals, 23 assists) will pace the offensive counter for the visiting Canucks.
Vancouver Canucks vs. Vegas Golden Knights Betting Predictions
Free Pick: SU Winner – Golden Knights, O/U – Under
Notes
Betting Trends
Over Vegas’ last ten outings, eight of them have been decided by two or more goals (the team is 5-3 in those games).
Penalties and power plays may be even more key than usual in the outcome of this matchup. The Canucks are 9-9 in games where they serve fewer penalty minutes than their opponent and 14-26 when they’re in the penalty box for fewer than 10 minutes, total. The Golden Knights are 15-10 when they serve fewer penalty minutes than the opposition and 29-14 in games where they’re in the box for less than 10 minutes.
Vegas is 2-2 in games decided by a shootout this season while Vancouver is 0-3 in shootouts.
Vegas might hold the upper hand if this one comes down to the wire. The team’s 16-10 in games decided by one goal, while Vancouver is 7-12 in such games.
The total has gone over in three of Vegas’ last five games.
Vegas has averaged 11.4 giveaways over its last five home games, a rise over its season average of 9.4 giveaways per game (ranked 14th).
Vancouver is ranked ninth this season with 8.4 giveaways per game. That figure’s trended lower lately, however, as it’s averaged 6.1 giveaways over its last 10 games and 5.0 giveaways over its last five.
