The Vancouver Canucks face the New York Rangers with both teams heading in opposite directions this season. The Canucks have a 20-26-4 record and with only three wins in their last 10 games have fallen to the bottom of the Pacific Division. The Rangers have a 28-14-8 record and with two wins in a row have leaped into third place in the Metropolitan Division. Both teams look to improve in their divisions and the upcoming game should be a good one as a result.
Canucks defense has been awful
The Canucks are having a rough season despite their offense stepping up and scoring 3.32 goals per game. Elias Pettersson and J.T. Miller have scored 39 goals and 65 assists to lead the top line but the rest of the offense has also stepped up. Andrei Kuzmenko, Brock Boeser, and Conor Garland have combined for 40 goals and 60 assists while defenseman Quinn Hughes has added five goals and 40 assists from the point to open up the offense.
The offense has struggled but the defense has let the Canucks down, allowing 3.94 goals per game with 13 goals in the last three games. Quinn Hughes and Luke Schenn have combined for 4.4 defensive point shares but the rest of the unit has been awful, allowing opponents to find open shots on the net at will. Additionally, goaltender Spencer Martin has been awful with a .875 save percentage and a 3.94 goals-against average on 784 shots with -24.0 goals saved above average.
Rangers have been carried by great defense
The Rangers are having a great season with their offense stepping up and scoring 3.20 goals per game with nine goals in the last two games. Mika Zibanejad and Artemi Panarin have scored 36 goals and 68 assists to lead the top line but the rest of the offense has also been great. Vincent Trocheck, Chris Kreider, and Filip Chytil have combined for 52 goals and 45 assists while defensemen Adam Fox and K'Andre Miller have added 15 goals and 59 assists from the point to put the offense over the top.
The offense has been great but the defense has led the Rangers this year, allowing only 2.62 goals per game with only five goals in the last two games. Adam Fox and Ryan Lindgren have combined for 8.4 defensive point shares and 150 blocked shots while K'Andre Miller, Jacob Trouba, and Braden Schneider have combined for 6.7 defensive point shares to add depth to the unit. In addition, goaltender Igor Shesterkin has been great with a .918 save percentage and a 2.45 goals-against average on 1081 shots with 13.1 goals saved above average.
Best Bets for this Game
Full-Game Side Bet
Insiders Status:
The Canucks are hoping to pull off the upset and win the upcoming game but the Rangers look like one of the best teams in the Eastern Conference and look to control this game from the first period. The Rangers, who average 3.20 goals per game, should find the back of the net at will against a Canucks defense that allows 3.94 goals per game with Artemi Panarin, Mika Zibanejad, and the rest of the forward unit controlling the puck in the offensive zone and creating open shots with great puck movement while Adam Fox generates shots on the net from the blue line. The Rangers, who allow only 2.62 goals per game, should limit the Canucks offense with Adam Fox, K'Andre Miller, and the rest of the defensive unit creating turnovers in the defensive zone and limiting shots on the net, allowing goaltender Igor Shesterkin to make plenty of big saves. The Rangers should win the game and cover the spread in a dominant win on their home ice to win their third game in a row.
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Full-Game Total Pick
Insiders Status:
The two teams have been carried by their offenses and the upcoming game should reflect that with both teams finding the back of the net at will. The Canucks, who average 3.32 goals per game, should create plenty of scoring chances with Elias Pettersson, J.T. Miller, and the rest of the forward unit carrying the puck into the offensive zone and finding open shots with quick passes. The Rangers, who have scored nine goals in the last two games, should run up the score against a Canucks defense that allowed 13 goals in the last three games, with Artemi Panarin, Mika Zibanejad, Vincent Trocheck, and the rest of the forward unit crashing the net on the rush and creating open shots with effective puck movement while defensemen Adam Fox and K'Andre Miller pick apart the Canucks defense from the point. The Over should cover in a high-scoring game controlled by both offenses.
Take the Over on 6.5 goals.