Nashville Predators vs Vancouver Canucks Betting Picks

Nashville has won two of three after a 4-2 win at Seattle. They've also won four of their last five as a favorite. The offense is 10th on the power play, while the defense is 11th in penalty killing. Last-place Vancouver is getting outscored by 73 goals, the worst differential in the NHL. They've lost 25 of their last 29 after a 2-0 loss at home to Ottawa. The offense is 31st in goals scored (2.52 per game), while the defense is last in penalty killing and in goals surrendered (3.69 per game). The Canucks are a brutal 6-20-5 at home. Play Nashville.  

Vancouver's three-game win streak ended in a 5-1 loss at Pittsburgh on Tuesday, when Kevin Lankinen allowed five goals on 26 shots. However, Thatcher Demko is expected to start tonight, and he is 3-1 with a 2.28 goals-against average. The Canucks have won the past six meetings on the road against Nashville and nine of 13 overall against the Predators. Nashville is 3-13 in its past 16 games versus Western Conference opponents, including 0-6 against the Pacific Division. The Predators are on a four-game losing skid while scoring a total of nine goals. Vancouver is 5-1 in its past six games after allowing at least five goals in its previous game and 4-1 against teams that scored two or fewer in their previous game, dating to last season. Take the Canucks. 

Two of the Western Conference's offensively challenged teams meet tonight in Nashville for this rematch from last year's playoffs. Vancouver's offense is 22nd in goals scored, while the defense is 13th in penalty killing. The Canucks are on an 8-6 run UNDER the total, as well as 7-5 UNDER on the road. Nashville's offense is 28th in goals scored and last in shooting percentage, while the defense is eighth in penalty killing. These teams played in Vancover earlier this month and Nashville took that game 3-0. In what shapes up as another defensive duel, I'm playing Vancouver/Nashville UNDER the total. 

Nashville won the first meeting this season 5-3 on Nov. 17, with Juuse Saros stopping 24 of 27 shots for the Predators. Saros is expected to start this game with a 2.82 goals-against average and a .903 save percentage. After losing the first three games, Nashville wants to salvage something from this road trip. Vancouver is playing on consecutive nights after going to a shootout to defeat Seattle 4-3 last night on the road. The Canucks still have lost six of nine, and they are 1-5 in their past five games as home underdogs of +110 to +150 and 2-9 overall as dogs of +110 to +150. Vancouver has lost four of five against Central Division opponents and has won just seven of 20 home games this season. Take the Predators.