Detroit Red Wings vs Vancouver Canucks Betting Picks

Vancouver is 12-9-2 on the road this season, winning five of their last seven away from home. They won at Seattle (3-2), won at Boston (5-4) as a +163 underdog, won at the Islanders (4-1) at +120, plus won at New Jersey (2-1) and at the Rangers (3-0) at even money. The offense is 13th in the NHL on the power play. Detroit is getting outscored on the season. The offense is 18th in goals scored, while the defense is 14th in penalty killing, 20th in goals allowed (3.16 per game), and 19th in save percentage (.893). The Red Wings have split their last six, including losing to Pittsburgh (4-1) as a -135 favorite in their last home game. Play Vancouver.

Fading Vancouver is not a problem, especially when the lay price is fair, like it is here. The Canucks have the second-fewest points in the NHL. They have the worst defense in the league, rank near the bottom in killing penalties, and are below average offensively, ranking 22nd with an average of 2.9 goals per game. The Canucks will really miss center Elias Pettersson if he has to miss another game due to an upper-body injury. Detroit has better offensive depth, fires off more shots on net, and is superior on special teams. Detroit has five power-play goals in its last three games, while ranking seventh in the league on the power play. The Red Wings are not strong in net. Vancouver, however, may have the worst goaltending in the league with Thatcher Demko out. Second-string goalie Kevin Lankinen is projected to be in the net today. He has a 3.45 GAA and an .881 SV%. The injured Demko, by comparison, has a 2.80 GAA and .903 SV%. Take the Red Wings.

Vancouver plays its fifth consecutive road contest. The offense is 15th on the power play, while the defense is 22nd in goals given up (3.14 per game) and 24th in save percentage (.893). They're 5-5 over the last 10 games losing three times as a favorite, including a 5-2 loss to the Islanders as -190 chalk. Detroit has won three of five and plays its third straight at home. The offense is fourth on the power play, while the defense is seventh in save percentage (.909). Play Detroit.

Detroit beat the Canucks 4-3 in overtime on Saturday and it was its fifth consecutive win over the Canucks. The Red Wings will look to redeem themselves after getting pummeled 8-4 at Edmonton on Tuesday, but they still have won six of 10 and in the playoff picture for the first time in several years. Detroit is 30-21-1 OVER and Vancouver is 31-20-3 OVER this season and the past three meetings have gone OVER. Alex Lyon will likely get another chance after getting bombarded by the Oilers and he still is 14-7-2 with a 2.76 goals-against average for Detroit. The Red Wings have won five of six after allowing at least five goals their previous game and they are 5-0 OVER after losing by three or more goals. The OVER is 4-1-1 in the Canucks' past six games against teams that allowed at least five goals their previous game. Take the Red Wings and the OVER.