It’s do-or-die each and every night from here on out for the Vancouver Canucks, who are seven points back from a wild card spot but with just seven games left in the regular season. While the Canucks aren’t mathematically eliminated just yet, their playoff hopes are on very thin ice.
Vancouver can help themselves on Monday night, squaring off against one of those teams that they are chasing when the Dallas Stars come to town. Dallas sits in the first wild card spot with 91 points, while the Canucks have 84. Nashville has 91 points as well, but Vegas also lurks with 87. This chase is far from over.
Matchup Information
Stars at Canucks Betting Analysis
Dallas is a -115 favorite on Monday night, but that number gives the Stars just a slight edge with Vancouver at -105. Both teams have plenty to play for yet in the regular season and come into this contest going 6-2-2 over their last 10 games.
Vancouver would seem to have a slight edge with this number, at home (even though they are just 17-14-6 at Rogers Arena this season) and riding a five-game win streak. Dallas is 3-0-1 in their last four, though, and are 19-17-2 on the road this year. This looks like a pretty evenly matched-up NHL pick.
Stars Betting Analysis
Dallas got an ugly win last time out, barely edging the Stars 2-1 at home even though they were whopping -254 favorites on the NHL betting odds. Victories are victories this time of year, though, and Tyler Seguin and Michael Raffi scored goals to make sure the Stars didn’t give one away.
One thing to note about Monday’s visit to Vancouver is that it’s just the second road game for Dallas in their last eight outings. The Stars are 6-1 in their last seven away tilts, though, and were just 3-2-1 in their six home recent home contests.
Jake Oettinger and Scott Westwood have split time in net recently, so it’s a toss-up on who gets the nod in Monday’s game. Oettinger was in net on Saturday, stopping 26 of 27 shots to lead the win over San Jose, but Westwood recently had a 25 save shutout against Tampa Bay, one of the best offenses in the league. Dallas looks good, whoever is manning the pipes here.
Canucks Betting Analysis
Even though it may be slightly too late, Vancouver is not letting their season die slowly into the wind with a five-game win streak. Sure two of those came against Arizona and one vs. the Sharks, but the Canucks also have two wins over Vegas during their current run – a team they are trying to overtake on a quest for a wild card berth.
The Canucks are 19th in the NHL in scoring (2.9 goals/game), which isn’t great but isn’t completely horrible. They’ve really turned on the offense lately, though, averaging over five goals per game on their current five-game win streak. Elias Pettersson has 11 points over that span, while Alex Chiasson and J.T. Miller added 9, and Ivan Barbeshev had 8. The Canucks are getting great balance heading into Monday’s NHL picks.
Thatcher Demko has started four of five during Vancouver’s win streak, so he’ll likely get the call again on Monday night. The Canucks goaltender is getting a lot of help from his offense lately, but he’s also only allowing 2.0 goals/game in those four starts.
Updates
The big injury for Vancouver is captain Bo Horvat being sidelined until early May with a lower-body injury. Monday will be the first game without Horvat, who suffered the injury late in Thursday’s win against Arizona. Still, it appears as one door closes, another opens, with Brock Boeser possibly back for the first time since suffering an arm injury two weeks ago.
- Stars are 6-1 last seven road games
- Road team is 8-3 last 11 head to head meetings
- Canucks are 5-0 in last five games
- Stars are 20-7 last 27 as a favorite
- Canucks are 7-3 in last 10 with three or more days rest
- Canucks are 3-9 last 12 head to head in Vancouver
Stars at Canucks Betting Preview
Oddsmakers are right to call this one a likely close game, as both teams still have plenty to play for in the regular season, and each have collected points in 8 of their last 10. The Vancouver offense has been very impressive lately, and they are showing depth, but Dallas can trot out one of two goaltenders with solid production in their recent games as well.
Stars at Canucks Betting Prediction
Vancouver is playing for their playoff lives right now, are at home, and are well-rested, having not played at all over the weekend. Dallas is also making just their second road appearance over the last eight games. Have to go with Canucks -105 for these NHL expert picks.
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