NHL Betting Picks, Odds, And Preview: Arizona Coyotes vs Vancouver Canucks

Being in the Pacific Division has its fair share of the good and the bad. Good in the sense that the teams within the group feed off each other’s competitive attributes that in turn make each of them better. The elevated showing on ice from the majority of the division, however, comes at a price as five teams from the Pacific congest the race for the eight playoff spots in the Western Conference. Two of them will battle it out on Wednesday when fourth-placed Vancouver Canucks host the Arizona Coyotes who sit at the fifth spot.

Arizona Coyotes

The Coyotes are out of the playoff picture at the moment, sitting at the fifth spot of the wild card ladder in the conference. But with a five-team logjam in the race for the conference’s final two postseason spots, a single win could definitely reshape the complexion of the tally. The standings might show Arizona trailing Vancouver by a mile, but the actual disparity in points tells otherwise as the Canucks lead the Coyotes by just two points thus far. Sense of urgency will play a huge role in their visit to the Rogers Arena as they try to carry over their impressive showing on Saturday against Buffalo where they battled back from two points down to post a 5-2 come from behind victory.

Vancouver Canucks

The Canucks are clinging on to the top wild-card spot in the West with a 34-25-6 tally but their spot remains in peril as it is bruised by a three-game losing skid that capped a disastrous four-game road trip. A four-game homestand ensues this time and Vancouver could only hope to turn the tide and establish a more comfortable distance from their conference adversaries. The team hopes to learn their lesson from the last game’s painful meltdown at Columbus where they squandered a two-goal edge and stumbled late in the game which ended with a 5-3 loss. J.T. Miller is raring to get back on ice after his three-point output all just went to waste due to his team’s crucial collapse. He still leads the club with 68 points on 26 goals and 42 assists and will spearhead the Canucks in their attempt for a reawakening.

Odds and Trends

Having the advantage of playing at home where they are 20-7-4, the Canucks are flagged as slight favorites at -120 based on the updated NHL Odds that have the Coyotes offered at +120.

The Coyotes are 19-39 in their last 58 games playing on 3 or more days rest and 1-6 in their last 7 games following a win.

The Canucks are 12-3 in their last 15 home games and 7-2 in their last 9 vs. Pacific.

Over is 6-1-1 in Coyotes last 8 when their opponent allows 5 goals or more in their previous game and 5-0 in Canucks last 5 games playing on 2 days rest.

Under is 3-0-1 in Coyotes last 4 games as a road underdog.

Prediction

Canucks win, 3-2