Vancouver Canucks (29-33-5) vs. Anaheim Ducks (23-36-10)
The 2022-23 NHL season goes on with a seven-game Sunday card and brings this Western Conference clash between the Vancouver Canucks and the Anaheim Ducks at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California at 8:00 p.m. ET.
This is the third meeting of the season between these teams. The Canucks have won each of the first two games, winning both at home, including a 3-2 overtime victory on March 8. Vancouver was the favorite (-251) with the total set at 6.5. Vancouver is the favorite in this contest as well (-130) with the total set at 6.5.
Canucks Fall in Arizona
The Vancouver Canucks are on a three-game road trip, with the final contest in Anaheim on Sunday. The team plays the Los Angeles Kings on Saturday, but this preview was written prior to the conclusion of that contest. Vancouver lost in Arizona on Thursday, 3-2, snapping a three-game winning streak and the club was 4-0-1 in their previous five. Vancouver is 18 points behind Winnipeg for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference.
Three unanswered goals by the Coyote proved to be the difference in this contest. Andrei Kuzmenko and Elias Pettersson each scored for Vancouver. Pettersson has seven points over his last five games, including five assists, while Kuzmenko has five goals over his last five games. The Canucks are averaging 3.34 goals per game, 11th overall, and are 12th on the power play (22.2%). The Canucks have been a little bit better on the road this season, averaging 3.52 goals per game.
Goals from Kuzmenko and Pettersson, but ultimately #Canucks fell one short tonight in Arizona. @BudweiserCanada HIGHLIGHTS | https://t.co/nGp82LSphC pic.twitter.com/491Fal0TLk
— Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks) March 17, 2023
Thatcher Demko stopped 24 shots in the loss. He will likely go on Saturday, so expect Collin Delia (7-4-2, 3.51, .876) to get the call. Vancouver is 30th in goals-against average (3.78) and dead last in penalty killing (68.2%). They have been even worse on the road, killing off 66.7% of their shorthanded attempts.
Ducks Down Blue Jackets
The Anaheim Ducks defeated the Columbus Blue Jackets on Friday, 7-4. That was the third contest of a four-game homestand that has seen the club goal 1-1-1 through the first three games. Anaheim is 12-17-3 at home this season and are 25 points behind Winnipeg for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference.
This game was tied at four with a little under three minutes left, but Max Jones, Scott Harrington, and Ryan Strome scored in the final few minutes to give Anaheim the victory. Harrington finished with two goals, the first multi-goal performance of his career. Anaheim is 30th in goals per game (2.59) and 31st on the power play (16.1%). They have been better offensively of late, averaging 3.30 goals per game over their last 10 contests.
Chicken time! #FlyTogether pic.twitter.com/qixnca98n6
— Anaheim Ducks (@AnaheimDucks) March 18, 2023
Lukas Dostal stopped 38 shots in the victory. It will likely be John Gibson (14-25-8, 3.90, .901) getting the start on Sunday. Gibson has allowed 11 total goals over his last two starts. The Ducks are 32nd in goals allowed per game (4.03) and 29th in penalty killing (72.6%). They have been better at keeping opponents out of their own net over the last 10 games, posting a 3.30 goals-against average but have a 4.06 GAA at home this season.
Best Bets for this Game
Full-Game Side Bet
Insiders Status:
Vancouver has won both meetings between these teams this season, but both of those contests were in Vancouver. Now the teams shift to Anaheim where the Ducks are 2-1-2 at home this month. They have scored 19 goals in those five home contests, as the offense is starting to pick up their game as the temperatures are warming.
The Anaheim power play has only connected on 16.8% of their opportunities at home, but they are facing the worst penalty-killing unit in the NHL, as Vancouver is giving up goals in one-third of their shorthanded situations on the road. Look for that to be a key factor in this contest as Anaheim pulls out the victory.
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Full-Game Total Pick
Insiders Status:
It would seem like the over is the smart pick here. Gibson has given up 11 total goals over his last two starts while Dellia has given up 20 total goals over his last four, including yielding five or more in three of those contests. Goals would seem like they will be plentiful, but these teams have gone under in 10 of the last 14 meetings in Anaheim and have gone under in 18 of the last 29 overall.
The teams combined for five total goals the last time they met, and the fact that Vancouver is playing on back-to-back nights should slow down the Canucks a little. Look for six to be scored in this contest.