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The Vancouver Canucks and Nashville Predators meet in Game 6 of a best-of-7 Western Conference 1st-round series Friday. Puck drop from Bridgestone Arena is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET (TNT). Below, we analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the Canucks vs. Predators odds, and make our expert NHL picks and predictions.
Playoff series: Canucks 3-2
The Canucks had a chance to finish off the Predators on home ice Tuesday in Game 5, and send them packing for Nashville.
There was no score through 2 periods, and then Nikita Zadorov gave the Canucks a 1-0 lead at 3:11 of the 3rd period. Rogers Arena was jumping, but Roman Josi quickly answered on the power play at 7:15. Alexandre Carrier stunned the crowd, though, at 12:46, and that was all of the scoring. Back to the Music City it is.
The Canucks lost All-Star Thatcher Demko to a knee injury after Game 1. Casey DeSmith started Games 2 and 3, but suffered a lower-body injury of his own, keeping him out of Game 4. Third-string goalie Arturs Silovs started in Nashville, grabbing the 3-1 series lead for the Canucks.
Coach Rick Tocchet stuck with Silovs for Game 5, with DeSmith still dealing with his LBI. Silovs was good, stopping 20 of 22 shots, but Juuse Saros was just a tick better.
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Canucks at Predators odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Thursday at 10:53 p.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Canucks +110 (bet $100 to win $110) | Predators -130 (bet $130 to win $100)
- Puck line (PL)/Against the spread (ATS): Canucks +1.5 (-250) | Predators -1.5 (+190)
- Over/Under (O/U): 5.5 (O: -105 | U: -115)
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Canucks at Predators projected goalies
Casey DeSmith (12-9-6, 2.89 GAA, .896 SV%, 1 SO – regular season) vs. Juuse Saros (35-24-5, 2.86 GAA, .906 SV%, 3 SO – regular season)
DeSmith was considered a game-time decision for Game 5 due to his LBI, but Silovs got the nod. The Latvian backstop didn’t do a poor job, but with the loss, if DeSmith is ready, he’ll be given the nod, even though Silovs won the most recent game in Nashville. Vancouver has the 2nd of 3 chances to get the 4th win, and it likely doesn’t want a decisive Game 7, where anything can happen.
Saros was rocked for 4 goals on just 21 shots in Game 4, but he has allowed a total of just 4 goals in Games 2, 3 and 5. The Canucks just do not throw a lot of rubber at the goalie, as he has made a total of just 80 saves in the 5 games, so he should have plenty of energy.
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Canucks at Predators picks and predictions
Prediction
Predators 3, Canucks 2
Moneyline
The PREDATORS (-115) are the play in Game 6, as they look to force this series back to the Pacific Northwest for a decisive Game 7. The Canucks (-105) would like to ruin those plans, and set up an All-Canada series against the Edmonton Oilers which would make Gary Bettman’s head spin.
Saros has been fire in this series, all except for Game 4, and he is giving the Preds a chance to steal this season.
The reason to play the Preds is in between the pipes. Saros has been steady, but the Canucks have been forced to start 3 different netminders due to injuries.
Puck line/Against the spread
The Canucks +1.5 (-250) will set you back 2 1/2 times your potential return, if you require a little bit of insurance, and just cannot trust Vancouver straight up due to its tendy troubles.
AVOID.
Over/Under
UNDER 5.5 (-115) is the best play on the board, as both of these sides are defense first, while the offense takes very few shots.
Again, Saros has faced just 91 shots through 5 games of this series, an average of 18.2 shots on goal (SOG) per contest for Vancouver.
Despite the fact the Canucks have had goaltender issues with injuries, Nashville hasn’t changed its approach, taking a total of just 119 shots, or 23.8 SOG. Go low, and feel confidently in doing so.
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