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Anaheim Ducks vs. Vancouver Canucks Game Preview 3/27/18

Walter Tychnowicz-USA TODAY Sports

In their fourth and final head-to-head meeting of the regular season, the Anaheim Ducks and the Vancouver Canucks clash at Rogers Arena for a divisional tilt. The puck drops at 10 p.m. ET on Tuesday, March 27, and it will be showcased live on Sportsnet Pacific.

Anaheim Ducks at Vancouver Canucks Odds

With a moneyline of -220, Anaheim heads into the contest as the heavy favorite. The line for Vancouver sits at +180, and the oddsmakers have set the Over/Under (O/U) at 6 goals (-135 to bet the under, +115 for the over).

Anaheim is 39-37 straight up (SU) and has lost 0.3 units for moneyline bettors thus far. 45 of its games have gone under the total, while 30 have gone over and just one has pushed. This 2017-18 Ducks team is 17-22 SU on the road.

Anaheim has converted on just 17.5 percent of its power play opportunities this season, a figure that’s ranked 23rd in the NHL. Its penalty kill is ranked fifth overall, and it has successfully killed off 83.1 percent of its penalties.

The Ducks, as a collective unit, have been sent to the penalty box 4.3 times per game overall during the 2017-18 season, and 2.8 per game over its last five on the road. The team has had to stave off opponent power plays just 8.0 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.

Averaging 29.3 saves per game with a .926 save percentage, John Gibson (31-26-8) has been the best option in goal for Anaheim this season. If head coach Randy Carlyle chooses to rest him, however, the team may go with Ryan Miller (10-14-6 record, .926 save percentage, 2.49 goals against average).

The visiting Ducks have relied on Rickard Rakell and Ryan Getzlaf heavily this season. Rakell has 65 points via 31 goals and 34 assists, and has recorded two or more points 19 times. Getzlaf has 11 goals and 46 assists to his creditand has notched at least one point in 31 games.

Vancouver is 27-49 straight up (SU) and has lost 13.7 units for moneyline bettors this year. Through 76 regular season outings, 42 of its games have gone over the total, while 34 have gone under and none have pushed. This year, the team’s 12-24 SU at home.

The Canucks have converted on 21.7 percent of their power play chances this season, a mark that places it in the top-10 among NHL teams. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 21st overall, and it’s successfully killed off 78.9 percent of all penalties.

Vancouver players have been penalized 3.8 times per game in total this season, and 3.2 per game over their last five home outings. The team’s been forced to kill penalties just 6.4 minutes per game over their last five home outings.

Jacob Markstrom (26.5 saves per game) has been the top choice in goal for the Canucks. Markstrom has 20 wins, 36 losses, and seven overtime losses to his credit and has maintained a .911 save percentage and 2.75 goals against average this year.

Brock Boeser (29 goals, 26 assists) will pace the offensive counter for the home team.

Anaheim Ducks vs. Vancouver Canucks Betting Predictions

Prediction: SU Winner – Canucks, O/U – Under

Notes

Betting Trends

Eight of Vancouver’s last ten games have been decided by two or more goals, and the team is 2-6 overall in those games.

The Canucks are 10-12 in games where they serve fewer penalty minutes than their opponent and 16-36 when they serve fewer than 10 total penalty minutes.

Anaheim is 4-7 in games decided by a shootout this season while Vancouver is 0-3 in shootouts.

The under has hit in three of Vancouver’s last five outings.

Vancouver skaters have averaged 7.8 giveaways over its last five home games, its season average of 8.2 giveaways per game (the 8th-fewest in the NHL).

Anaheim is ranked 23rd this season with 10.3 giveaways per game. That figure’s trended higher recently, as the team’s averaged 11.9 giveaways over its last 10 games and 12.8 giveaways over its last five.

Anaheim skaters have dished out the league’s fifth-most hits per game (24.0), but the team’s recorded just 19.0 hits over their last five away games.

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Written by GMS Previews

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