The Vancouver Canucks are in Nashville Monday, looking to get back in the win column after a divisional loss in Colorado
Nashville is the third stop on a five-game road trip for a Canucks team that is 10-7-3 away from home this season
There is no rest for the weary in this year’s condensed NHL schedule and after coughing up yet another third period lead in Colorado Saturday, the Vancouver Canucks have made their way to the Music City for a third and final meeting against the Nashville Predators.
Sports betting sights opened this game at Canucks -155 and the money line odds initially took a short dip towards the underdog but today’s public action has swayed back towards the favorite. Current NHL odds at Pinnacle Sports offer the Canucks at -158 with a total of 5 Under (-110).
Nashville was shutout 3-0 Sunday by the Detroit Red Wings and the Preds are scrambling to end the club’s current six-game losing streak but it appears that Barry Trotz’s team has run out of gas. The loss was the Predators’ fifth in a row at Bridgestone Arena and goals have been hard to come by.
The Preds are 8-12-2 O/U at home this year and in April, just one of six home games has cleared the book’s posted total. Since March 30, Nashville has recorded just one win to go along with six losses and a pair of singles and in those nine games they have been outscored 2.6 to 1.2 on average. The net result is a 2-6-1 Over/Under record that will be hard to shake given the team’s lack of playmakers.
The return of Ryan Kesler has helped spark a Canucks offense that had also seemed anemic at times and since returning, the second line center has four points in three games. Kesler won eight of 14 faceoffs in the loss to Colorado and there is speculation coach Alain Vigneault might shift Kesler over to the wing on a line with Derek Roy and Alex Burrows but either way, he will maintain his spot on the first power play unit.
Vancouver is five points ahead of the Minnesota Wild for first in the Northwest and a win tonight would give the Canucks a series sweep but they expect a gritty effort from the home side. Tonight’s contest marks the midway point of Vancouver’s final extended road trip in this shortened season and playing away off a road loss with rest the team is 2-1, with all three games decided by one goal.
NHL PLAY OF THE DAY
The Canucks are 6-11-3 O/U on the road this season and in the past 10 games have held opponents to just 2.2 goals per game. They fell behind early against the Avalanche and then after gaining a lead in the third, allowed Colorado to score back-to-back even strength goals in the final seven minutes of play. It’s a cue that all season long has triggered HC Vigneault to batten down his club’s defensive hatches and rely on his goaltending duo to make key saves when needed. The Preds only get 25.7 shots per game this year and against this focused road squad it will be tough making those limited chances count.
Pick: Take the Canucks-Predators Under 5 goals
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