Two teams that split their head-to-head series (two wins apiece) last year, the Vancouver Canucks and the Arizona Coyotes take the ice at Gila River Arena in a divisional matchup. Sportsnet Pacific will showcase the matchup, which gets going at 10 p.m. ET on Thursday, October 25.
Vancouver Canucks vs. Arizona Coyotes Odds
Vancouver is 6-4 straight up (SU) and has netted 4.8 units for moneyline bettors this year. Through 10 regular season contests, five of its games have gone under the total, while four have gone over and none have pushed. The Nucks are 4-3 SU as an away team in 2018-19.
The Canucks have scored on 22.2 percent of their power play chances so far. That mark hasn’t moved too much from last year, when they were ranked eighth in the NHL by scoring on 21.5 percent of their extra-man advantages. Their penalty kill has gotten stronger since last year, as they’ve gone from successfully defending 78.6 percent of all opponent power plays (ranked 21st overall last year) to 82.5 percent this year.
The Nucks, as a collective unit, have been penalized 4.8 times per game this season, a number that’s regressed some from the 3.7 penalties per game given up last year. After serving an average of 8.7 penalty minutes per game a year ago, the team’s had to kill penalties for a noteworthy 11.8 minutes per outing this season.
Averaging 30.8 saves per game with a .911 save percentage, Jacob Markstrom (3-2) has been the top option in goal for Vancouver this year. Markstrom did just play last night, however, so Vancouver may opt to rest him and instead roll with Anders Nilsson (3-2 record, .914 save percentage, 2.61 goals against average).
Bo Horvat and Elias Pettersson will both lead the offensive attack for the visiting Canucks. Horvat has nine points on seven goals and two assists, and has shown up in the point column in six different games. Pettersson has five goals and three assists to his name (and has registered at least one point in four games).
Over on the other bench, Arizona is 3-5 straight up (SU) and has lost 1.3 units for moneyline bettors this year. Through eight regular season outings, six of its games have gone under the total, while one has gone over and just one has pushed. It’s 0-2 SU at home this season.
The Coyotes have killed off a remarkable 90.0 percent of all penalties, a few points up from the 79.4 percent they recorded a year ago (when they were ranked 18th in the NHL). They’ve converted on 13.6 percent of their power plays this year after scoring on 16.3 percent (ranked 27th in league) last season.
Arizona players have been whistled for penalties only 3.5 times per game this season. Last year, that number was at 3.3, the fifth-best mark in the NHL. After serving an average of 7.8 penalty minutes per game a season ago the team has had to stave off opponent power plays for 7.0 minutes per contest this year.
Antti Raanta (24.0 saves per game) has been the primary choice in goal for the Coyotes. Raanta has two wins and four losses and has registered a 2.32 goals against average and a .911 save percentage this year.
The home team offense will be led by Clayton Keller (three goals, two assists).
Vancouver Canucks vs. Arizona Coyotes Free Picks
Pick: SU Winner – Coyotes, O/U – Over
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Notes
Betting Trends
The total has gone under in four of Arizona’s last five outings.
Vancouver has managed 27.4 shot attempts per game over its last five road games while Arizona is averaging 38.5 shots per game over its last five at home.
Vancouver skaters recorded 21.3 hits per game last season, while the Coyotes logged 24.4 hits per contest.
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