The Honda Center is playing host a divisional matchup as the Vancouver Canucks make the trip to Anaheim to meet the Ducks. The matchup gets underway at 10 p.m. ET on Wednesday, March 14, and fans at home can catch the game live on Sportsnet Pacific.
Vancouver Canucks vs. Anaheim Ducks Odds
Anaheim (-240) is currently favored over Vancouver (+200), and the oddsmakers have set the Over/Under (O/U) at 6 goals (-125 for the under, +105 for the over).
Anaheim is 34-36 straight up (SU) and has lost 4.3 units for moneyline bettors this year. That early-season winning percentage is a slide from what the team managed during the 2016-17 season (46-36). Through 70 regular season contests, 42 of the team’s games have gone under the total, while 27 have gone over and just one has pushed. The team’s 19-15 SU at home this season.
The Ducks have converted on just 17.8 percent of their power play chances this year, a figure that’s ranked 24th overall in the NHL. On the other hand, their penalty kill is ranked eighth overall, and they’ve successfully killed off 82.6 percent of all penalties.
The Ducks, as a collective unit, have been whistled for penalties 4.3 times per game overall this season, and 3.2 per game over their last five contests home outings. The team has been forced to kill penalties for just 7.5 minutes per game over their last 10 outings, in total.
Sporting a .924 save percentage and 29.4 saves per game, John Gibson (26-25-7) has been the primary option in goal for the Ducks this season. If Anaheim chooses to give him a rest, however, head coach Randy Carlyle may turn to Ryan Miller (10-14-14 record, .926 save percentage, 2.49 goals against average).
Rickard Rakell and Ryan Getzlaf will both spearhead the attack for the Ducks. Rakell (59 points) has produced 30 goals and 29 assists and has recorded multiple points in 18 different games this year. Getzlaf has 10 goals and 41 assists to his name and has recorded a point in 27 games.
Vancouver is 25-45 straight up (SU) and has lost 13.6 units for moneyline bettors this year. Through 70 regular season contests, 40 of its games have gone over the total, while 30 have gone under and none have pushed. As the visiting team, the Canucks are 13-22 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 league. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked 25th overall and it’s successfully killed off 77.3 percent of all opponent power plays.
Vancouver’s players have been called for penalties 3.8 times per game in total this season, and 3.0 per game over their past five games. The team’s had to defend opponent power plays just 6.6 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Jacob Markstrom (26.1 saves per game) has been the primary choice in goal for Vancouver. Markstrom has 18 wins, 33 losses, and seven OT losses to his credit, and has registered a .910 save percentage and 2.74 goals against average this year.
Brock Boeser (29 goals, 26 assists) will lead the attack for the visiting Canucks.
Vancouver Canucks at Anaheim Ducks Free Picks
Prediction: SU Winner – Ducks, O/U – Under
Notes
Betting Notes
Anaheim is 4-7 in games decided by a shootout this season while Vancouver is 0-3 in shootouts.
The over has hit in three of Anaheim’s last five games.
Anaheim has averaged 2.8 goals per game overall this year, but is averaging 1.7 goals per contest over its three-game losing streak.
Over Vancouver’s last ten games, five of them have been decided by two or more goals (the team is 1-4 in those games).
The Ducks this season have tallied the sixth-most hits per game (24.2).
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