Canucks Survive Early Scare, Go For Preds’ Jugular
Predators vs Canucks Odds Favor Vancouver To Take 2-0 Series Lead
The Vancouver Canucks took Game 1 of their first-round series against the Nashville Predators, but not without having to sweat. They hope to make things easier for Game 2. They are a -1.5 (+160) favorite on the puck line and -162 on the moneyline with Nashville +1.5 (-192) against the spread (ATS) and +136 to win. Meanwhile, the projected total is 5.5. The Canucks are also now -280 favorites to win the series, up from -150 before Game 1.
What can bettors expect? Read on as we break down both teams and assess the Predators vs Canucks odds in our NHL game preview.
Western Conference First Round
Predators vs Canucks 
Records: Nashville Predators (47-31-5), Vancouver Canucks (51-23-9)
Location: Rogers Arena; Vancouver, BC
Day/Time:
Streaming: ESPN2, ESPN+
Predators vs Canucks Betting Trends
The Nashville Predators are 43-40 against the puck line, including 23-19 away from home. Most of Nashville’s games have trended toward the under, as the Predators are 39-40-4 against the over/under. Meanwhile, the Vancouver Canucks are 42-41 ATS, including 22-20 at home. As for the over/under, the Canucks are 43-37-3.
It is important to remember these betting trends when assessing the Predators vs Canucks odds.
Predators Fall Apart Late in Game 1
Nashville got off to a strong start in Game 1 before collapsing late, allowing three third-period goals in a 4-2 loss. Vancouver scored twice just 12 seconds apart to take a 3-2 lead, one it would not relinquish. The Predators are now 0-4 against Vancouver this season, having been outscored by a combined 17-8.
The visitors looked like a different team during the second half of the season, turning in an 18-game point streak from Feb. 17 to April 15. The Predators outscored opponents 106-71 over that stretch and earned a league-high 43 points. Can they recapture this form? It’s certainly possible, but only if they can keep the high-powered Canucks off the board.
Vancouver has scored at least four goals in each of the last three meetings with Nashville. It was highly efficient in Game 1, needing only 21 shots to do all its scoring.
The Predators remain longshot contenders, as their odds of winning the West dropped from +1800 to +2500 following Game 1. They are also +6000 to win the Stanley Cup.
Filip Forsberg is Nashville’s top goal-scorer (48), but he was kept off the board to open the series. During the regular season, the Predators ranked 10th in scoring (3.24 goals/game) and 16th in power-play rate (21.6%). They also had a plus-21 goal differential, which was eighth among Western Conference playoff teams.
The Predators will need more from their stars to overcome one of the Western Conference’s top contenders.
Vancouver Continues Offensive Surge
Dakota Joshua was the star of Game 1, scoring the go-ahead goal at 9:11 of the third period and adding an empty netter to put it away. Joshua — who had 18 goals and 32 points in 63 regular-season games — is another reminder of Vancouver’s superior depth. The Canucks used that balanced scoring to accumulate 109 points, their most in 12 years.
Vancouver remains proficient at home (28-9-5). This home-ice advantage benefits the Pacific Division champions as they continue their quest for a long-awaited Stanley Cup.
Oddsmakers are bullish on the Canucks, pricing them +550 to win the West and +1300 to win the Cup. Sharing those championship odds are three other teams from the West in the Stanley Cup bracket: Winnipeg, Vegas, and Colorado.
If the regular season is any indication, the Canucks could be poised for a deep run. They are potent offensively, ranking sixth in scoring (3.40 goals/game) and 11th in power-play percentage (22.6%). On top of that, they had a goal differential of +56, which was among the best in the conference.
Thatcher Demko’s health generated some concerns. The Canucks’ No. 1 goalie missed 14 games late in the regular season with a lower-body injury. However, Demko looked sharp in Game 1, finishing with 20 saves.
Keep that in mind when making your NHL betting picks.
Handicapping the Game
This was shaping up to be one of the more competitive first-round series, and it played true to form for a majority of Game 1. The Predators had Vancouver on the ropes early before the Canucks asserted their dominance and pulled away for a 1-0 series lead.
In the process, Vancouver improved to 22-20 ATS and 28-9-5 OU at home. Although home-ice advantage is often overstated in the NHL playoffs, it seems to remain a significant factor for the Canucks. That’s important to remember when analyzing the Predators vs Canucks odds.
Moving forward, bettors must continue to pay attention to Demko. Although he looked healthy in Game 1, his status bears watching because of his return from a lower-body injury.
Demko’s status is critical to the Canucks’ Stanley Cup hopes.
Predators vs Canucks Puckline
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