Vancouver Canucks vs Vegas Golden Knights Prediction: Will the Golden Knights Stay Hot?
Vancouver Canucks vs Vegas Golden Knights Prediction: Will the Golden Knights Stay Hot?
On Sunday night, the Las Vegas Golden Knights completed their road trip with a third straight win, after beating the Vancouver Canucks 3-2 in overtime and delivering a crushing blow to the Canucks' playoff hopes. The Nucks valiantly fought back from a 2-0 third period deficit, but could not secure the win. The loss put Vancouver 9 points out of a playoff spot, with 12 games remaining. The Canucks could be missing a couple of key pieces tonight, Brock Boeser is out with an upper-body injury and defenseman Quinn Hughes is day to day with an illness.
After an unorthodox slump, the Knights are surging as they have now won 5 in a row but are still on the outside of the playoff race. Vegas trails Dallas by 1 point for the final Wild Card spot and Los Angeles by 4 points for 3rd in the Pacific. Dallas has 2 games in hand on Vegas (as does WC1 Nashville), but Vegas has a game in on the Kings. A Division spot could be more realistic for the Knights but they have to continue winning games.
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Vancouver Canucks vs Vegas Golden Knights Prediction
On the season, Vegas is averaging a 12th best 3.36 goals per game but their power play has struggled as they are a 13th lowest 21.5%. The Knights are allowing 2.89 goals per game at home and their penalty kill is 78.9%, both are middle of the pack in the NHL. Vegas is 4th in the league in five on five scoring at home and they are 21 in goals allowed.
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These numbers should be boosted as goaltender Robin Lehner returned, to Vancouver, on Sunday night. Lehner has a 2.75 goals-against average and a .909 save percentage, he is the projected starter tonight. The Knights have been a wagon at home lately as they have won each of their last 5 games, outscoring opponents by a 23-10 margin. Vancouver is averaging 2.86 goals per game on the road on a power play that is 20.2%. The Nucks are allowing 3 goals per game but their penalty kill is the 5th worst on the road. This is where Vegas could exploit them and get their power play going. In five on five situations, away from home, the Nucks are 16th in scoring and 10th in goals allowed. Their road splits are not terrible.
The Canucks have gone through a tumultuous season, which looks like it will fall short of a playoff berth. They have been chasing ever since Boudreau was hired and it looks like they have finally run out of gas. Vancouver has lost 4 of their last 5 games at the worst possible time. They have some talent on the team and a stud goalie, in Thatcher Demko, but I think the Knights will end any playoff hopes they have tonight, at home, in Vegas and I like them to pick up a regulation win.
Vancouver Canucks vs Vegas Golden Knights Pick
Pick: Vegas Golden Knights 3 way (+100) (Bet $100 to Win $100)
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Article Author
Born and raised in Philadelphia, Tone has been handicapping the four major sports for over twenty years. An NHL enthusiast, Tone’s expertise lies on the ice. He’s excelled and profited finding the right angles on NHL games, particularly with player props, game props, and game totals. A contributor to several gaming sites, you can follow him on Twitter @TonesTakes.