The Vegas Golden Knights and Vancouver Canucks play Game 1 of their best-of-seven Western Conference Semifinals series Sunday at 10:30 p.m. ET at Rogers Place in Edmonton. We analyze the Canucks-Golden Knights NHL betting odds and lines, with picks and best bets.
Canucks vs. Golden Knights: Projected starting goalies
Jacob Markstrom vs. Robin Lehner
Markstrom saved his best for last against the defending champion St. Louis Blues, stopping 34 of the 36 shots to eliminate the champs in Game 6. He has won seven of his past nine starts, including the qualifying round, and he has lost just once in regulation during the span. The last time he faced the Golden Knights was back on Dec. 19 in Vancouver, stopping 39 of the 43 shots in a 5-4 overtime win. He and the Canucks were drummed in Vegas by a 6-3 count on Dec. 15, and he coughed up five goals on 39 shots.
Lehner went 3-1 with a 2.20 goals against average and .905 save percentage in four starts against his former employer, the Chicago Blackhawks, in Round 1. He wasn’t stellar during the series, and he was tested very little, but he made the saves he needed to make. Still, he’ll have to be a little better if he and the Golden Knights want to avoid the same fate as the Blues. Lehner was roughed up for six goals on 36 shots in a 7-5 loss at Vancouver back on Jan. 2 when he was a member of the Blackhawks, his only appearance against them in the regular season.
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Canucks vs. Golden Knights: Odds, picks and betting tips
Odds courtesy of BetMGM; access them at USA TODAY Sports for a full list. Odds last updated at 12:40 p.m. ET.
Prediction
Canucks 4, Golden Knights 3
Moneyline (ML)
The CANUCKS (+160) upset the Blues in Round 1, but winning in six is pretty dominant and not just the result of a few lucky bounces. They outscored St. Louis 22-16, and scored at least four goals on four occasions. They should be able to get to Lehner for a handful of goals, stealing Game 1 as moderate underdogs.
New to sports betting? A winning $10 bet on the Canucks returns a net profit of $16, while a winning $10 bet on the Golden Knights (-189) would fetch a profit of $5.29.
Puck Line/Against the Spread (ATS)
AVOID. The Canucks (+1.5, -167) are affordable if you feel the need for insurance in Game 1, but it’s not advised. Bet on the straight-up upset instead. The Golden Knights (-1.5, +140) are a tempting play at plus-money if you’re not feeling the whale, and think the No. 1 seed is gonna roll.
Over/Under (O/U)
The O/U is 6 (Over +100, Under -121), but I’m suggesting to play the alternate line of OVER 5.5 (-129). Four of the previous five meetings between Vancouver and Vegas have seen at least 7 goals. The Over is also an impressive 20-8-1 in the past 29 for the ‘Nucks, while going 6-0 in the past six for VGK when playing on three or more days of rest.
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