Anaheim Ducks vs. Vancouver Canucks Prediction, Preview, and Odds

The Anaheim Ducks face the Vancouver Canucks with both teams looking to improve on rough seasons. The Ducks have a 21-34-8 record and are near the bottom of the Pacific Division while the Canucks have a 26-32-5 record but have won back-to-back games. Both teams look to improve in the Pacific Division and the Western Conference and the upcoming game looks to be a good one.

Ducks defense has been one of the worst in the NHL

The Ducks are having a season to forget with their offense letting them down, scoring only 2.51 goals per game. Troy Terry, Trevor Zegras, and Mason Mctavish have scored 51 goals and 86 assists but the rest of the offense has struggled. Only six active skaters have 10 goals or more and opponents can eliminate the hapless offense as a result.

The offense has struggled but the defense has let the Ducks down, allowing 4.03 goals per game. Cam Fowler and Kevin Shattenkirk have combined for 3.9 defensive point shares but the rest of the unit has struggled, allowing opponents to find open shots on the net at will. In addition, goaltender Lukas Dostal has struggled with a .897 save percentage and a 4.00 goals-against average on 368 shots with -3.1 goals saved above average.

Canucks have been let down by their defense

The Canucks are having a rough season despite their offense stepping up and scoring 3.32 goals per game with eight goals in their last two games. Elias Pettersson, Andrei Kuzmenko, and J.T. Miller have scored 80 goals and 111 assists to lead the top two lines but the rest of the offense has also been great. Brock Boeser, Conor Garland, and Dakota Joshua have combined for 33 goals and 57 assists while defenseman Quinn Hughes has added five goals and 55 assists from the point to open up the offense.

The offense has been great but the defense has been awful, allowing 3.87 goals per game. Quinn Hughes and Tyler Myers have combined for 4.4 defensive point shares but the rest of the unit has struggled, allowing opponents to find open shots on the net at will. Additionally, goaltender Thatcher Demko has struggled with a .893 save percentage and a 3.66 goals-against average on 590 shots with -7.0 goals saved above average.

Best Bets for this Game

Full-Game Side Bet

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The Canucks have won back-to-back games and I see them stepping up and dominating this game on their home ice. The Canucks, who average 3.32 goals per game, should pile on the goals with Elias Pettersson, J.T. Miller, and the rest of the forward unit carrying the puck into the offensive zone and creating open shots with quick passes. The Canucks should limit the Ducks' offense, which averages only 2.51 goals per game, with Quinn Hughes, Tyler Myers, and the rest of the defensive unit creating turnovers in the defensive zone and limiting shots on the net, allowing goaltender Thatcher Demko to make plenty of big saves. The Canucks should win the game and cover the spread in a dominant win on their home ice.

Prediction: Canucks -1.5 (+115)

Full-Game Total Pick

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Both defenses have been awful all season and I see this game being a high-scoring one from the opening puck drop. The Ducks should pile on the goals against the Canucks, who allow 3.87 goals per game, with Troy Terry, Trevor Zegras, and the rest of the forward unit carrying the puck into the offensive zone and creating open shots with quick passes near the net. The Canucks, who have scored eight goals in their last two games, should run up the score against the Ducks, who allow 4.03 goals per game, with Elias Pettersson, J.T. Miller, Brock Boeser, and the rest of the forward unit crashing the net on the rush and creating open shots with effective puck movement while defenseman Quinn Hughes picks apart the Ducks defense from the point. The Over should cover in a high-scoring game controlled by both offenses.

Take the Over on 6.5 goals.

Prediction: Over 6.5

Mike Fink is a sports writer and a passionate football fan. After graduating from college, Fink picked up the passion he had since being a young child in following and covering all things sports and we are very excited to have him as a part of the StatSalt team. In recent weeks, Mike started a podcast which you can find on Spotify, called "The Mike and Grover Show" and it discusses all things football. He covers all forms of sports betting and also bets on all of the plays he gives out. Mike would advise hockey betting since the odds give you great payouts "Hockey is built to bet the Money Line Underdogs. Be sure and follow him on a daily basis.