Vegas Golden Knights vs Vancouver Canucks Betting Preview
VGK Can Regain Possession of Third Place in The Pacific, Canucks Searching for Division Crown
The Vegas Golden Knights (42-26-8, 92 points) trail the Los Angeles Kings (93 points) by 1-point with a game in hand with six hockey games to play.
The Knights were shocked by the Arizona Coyotes three nights ago as a -192 favorite, while the Canucks are coming off a 6-3 loss at Los Angeles.
Vancouver has lost four of their last six but leads the Edmonton Oilers for the top spot in the Pacific Division with five to play.
Oddsmakers have opened Vancouver as a -120 favorite with a total of 6 -over -115). The puck will drop at 10:00 p.m. ET / 7:00 p.m. PT from Rogers Arena. Let’s get into our Knights vs Canucks betting preview.
Golden Knights vs Canucks 
Day/Time:
Location: Rogers Arena
Streaming: NHLPP|ESPN+
The Knights Limp Out of Phoenix and Practice
The Vegas Golden Knights dropped a 7-4 decision to the Arizona Coyotes after carrying a 4-1 lead into the third period. Yep, that means the Knights gave up six third-period goals including three in a span of 1:07 to tie the game at four. The last three of the period were given up in a span of 2:38 starting at the 14:47 mark.
The Knights needed the two points and now need to buckle down starting tonight in Canada. Goaltender Logan Thompson allowed six third goals in nine minutes and six seconds. Thompson’s weekend bad news didn’t stop at The Mullet.
Thompson left Sunday’s practice during a neutral zone drill after a save. It appeared to be a lower-body injury after using his stick to get back on his feet. If Thompson is out for an extended time it causes a massive problem with Adin Hill still out even though he has returned to practice.
William Carrier and Nic Roy are not yet participating in practice. There is some good news, coach Bruce Cassidy said that Tomas Hertl will travel with the team to Vancouver and could see the ice for the first time in a Golden Knights sweater.
Alex Pietrangelo will stay home after leaving the game late against the ‘Yotes. For gamblers, Vegas has failed to produce a profit this hockey season with 2.45 units lost. The Knights have been profitable as an underdog with a 13-11 record while producing 3.84 units of profit.
If we dig into the numbers more, most of VGK’s underdog success has come at home (+5.62 units), but on the road, the team is just 7-10 (-1.78 units as a road dog. Vegas is in a dogfight for NHL playoff bracket positioning with three of their remaining six games against teams in the playoffs.
Canucks Looking for Playoff Peak
We don’t think the Vancouver Canucks are going to contend for the Stanley Cup even though they will win the Pacific Division. According to our latest NHL power rankings, the Canucks are 10th overall, fifth in the Western Conference.
They’ll face the 13th-ranked Golden Knights who will come in with various NHL injuries. Rick Tocchet’s team has issues with four losses in their last six games. We don’t have Vancouver higher because we don’t know when the Canucks lack of depth will come back to haunt them.
In their top six, Vancouver has three 30-goal scorers led by Brock Boeser (39 goals, 32 assists, 71 points) on the top line and J.T. Miller (35-62-97) centering the second line.
Beyond that, the Canucks don’t have a 15-goal scorer in their borrow six. That will be a problem in the postseason because Tocchet may be forced to lean on his top six while other hockey teams will be fresher as the postseason progresses. This season, the Canucks have produced 5.82 units, fourth best in the NHL.
Don’t Sleep On Patera
Before the NHL rumor mill starts tomorrow morning with speculation on the severity of Thompson’s injury, we’re sticking our necks out there and predicting that Juri Patera will get the start in net. That doesn’t change our wager because this is the situation the Knights seem to thrive in.
Once NHL handicappers get wind of the potential Thompson injury you can bet that the Vancouver money will flow in giving Vegas bettors a plus money number. If there is an organization that’s tight-lipped about injuries it’s Vegas, but if Patera gets the call don’t think the kid is a pushover despite a 1-3-1 record, and don’t think VGK will play differently to protect their backup.
The Knights will push the pace which means some heavy transition back the other way in the same manner that forced the 25-year-old goaltender to face an average of 37 shots per game in five starts this season.
When Vegas has their backs against the wall they usually play their best which is why we’re taking the Knights and the even money. That does it for our Knights vs Canucks betting preview, all the best with your NHL picks and parlays on Monday.
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