<p>The Vancouver Canucks will play at home for the first time since February 8th, when they host the red-hot Anaheim Ducks on Wednesday evening.</p>
<p>The Canucks went 1-4-0 during their recent five-game road trip, including a 5-2 loss versus the Ducks last Thursday. As they currently sit two points behind the Calgary Flames in the playoff race with one game in hand, this game is close to a must-win, and could factor into GM Patrik Allvin&#8217;s approach to Friday&#8217;s Trade Deadline.</p>
<p>Canucks captain Quinn Hughes has been ruled out for Wednesday&#8217;s matchup, leaving a massive hole on a shaky defensive core.</p>
<p>I&#8217;ll detail the relevant game notes, as well as outline my favourite betting angle below.</p>
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<h2 class="mb-5 text-2xl font-bold">Ducks vs. Canucks odds</h2>
<ul>
<li><strong class="text-lg font-bold">Ducks Moneyline Odds:</strong> +178</li>
<li><strong>Canucks Moneyline Odds: </strong>-200</li>
<li><strong>Puck Line Odds: </strong>Ducks +1.5 (-144), Canucks -1.5 (+128)</li>
<li><strong>Game Total: </strong>Over 5.5 (-112), Under 5.5 (+100)<br />
<em>*Odds courtesy of Pinnacle and are subject to change.</em></li>
</ul>
<h2><strong>Anaheim Ducks</strong></h2>
<p>The Ducks have been one of the NHL&#8217;s hottest teams recently, as they hold a record of 9-3-1 over their last 13 games, which has greatly increased the chances of the team pulling off a shocking playoff berth. If they were to win this game in regulation, Anaheim would be only two points behind Vancouver with each side having played 61 games.</p>
<p>From an analytical perspective, the Ducks&#8217; recent 9-3-1 tear appears to be highly unsustainable. They hold an expected goal share of just 43.13%, and have allowed 4.53 more shots per hour of play than they have generated. Their 3.05 xGA/60 in that span is the worst mark in the entire league.</p>
<p>Even if you&#8217;re someone who believes analytics can&#8217;t catch everything, like myself, it&#8217;s hard to argue the Ducks are currently playing as well as their record suggests. However, they continue to receive some of the league&#8217;s best goaltending from Lukas Dostal and John Gibson, who continue to cover up the team&#8217;s shaky defensive play.</p>
<p>As Dostal started last night in the team&#8217;s 6-2 win over the Edmonton Oilers, Gibson will presumably get the start in this matchup. Gibson holds a +14.7 GSAx rating and .909 save percentage in 25 games played this season. Among goaltenders to make over 15 starts this season, Gibson ranks fifth in GSAx per 60.</p>
<p>Thanks to their incredible goaltending, the Ducks may not get another top-five pick this season, which could hurt in the big picture, but the roster does already feature a ton of quality young talent.</p>
<p>Sophomore defenders Olen Zellweger and Pavel Mintyukov were expected to take big steps forward this season, but it&#8217;s been the surprisingly incredible play of 24-year-old Jackson LaCombe which has really boosted the upside of Anaheim&#8217;s blue-line. LaCombe has put up 33 points in 53 games this season, including 13 points over his last 12 games.</p>
<p>2024 second-overall pick Leo Carlsson has also been trending in the right direction, as he has produced 11 points over the last 12 games. He has spent the majority of that time playing alongside Trevor Zegras, who also looks to be finding his game, and returned from a three-game suspension in last night&#8217;s matchup versus Edmonton.</p>
<p>Robby Fabbri and Brock McGinn are the only two Ducks skaters expected to be unavailable in this matchup.</p>
<h2><strong>Vancouver Canucks</strong></h2>
<p>The Canucks will once again be forced to find a way without their best player in Hughes, who will miss this matchup with an undisclosed injury. To say the team owes it to their captain to earn a win in this matchup would be an understatement, as he has clearly given everything to the team, playing an entirely dominant brand of hockey while battling through numerous injuries.</p>
<p>With Hughes sidelined, we will likely see these defensive combinations in tonight&#8217;s matchup.</p>
<div>Marcus Pettersson – Tyler Myers<br />
Elias Pettersson (D) – Filip Hronek<br />
Derek Forbort – Carson Soucy</div>
<div></div>
<div>The Canucks were able to stem the tides relatively well during Hughes&#8217; most recent absence, playing to a record of 3-2-1. Marcus Pettersson has looked to be a strong acquisition, while Elias Pettersson (D) has also played quite respectably, albeit in a small sample.</div>
<div></div>
<div>Still, without Hughes the Canucks&#8217; defence core is one of the league&#8217;s least capable units from an offensive perspective. The team&#8217;s lack of play-driving ability on the back end is working hand-in-hand with the disappointing play of star forwards such as Elias Pettersson and Brock Boeser to create one of the least effective offences in the league.</div>
<div></div>
<div>Over the last 10 games, the Canucks have generated just 2.99 xGF/60, which ranks 23rd in the NHL, and scored only 2.20 goals per game where it counts. They have done a good job of suppressing offensive chances from their opponents in that span, but due to the team&#8217;s putrid offensive play, the margin for error right now is miniscule.</div>
<div></div>
<div>Head coach Rick Tocchet has revamped his offensive units, elevating Conor Garland and Dakota Joshua to the top line alongside Elias Pettersson. Garland and Joshua have been two of the team&#8217;s best players in recent matchups, and will hopefully help drag Pettersson into the fight, whose lethargic play has been arguably the single greatest problem for the team recently.</div>
<div></div>
<div>Kevin Lankinen has been confirmed as the team&#8217;s starting goaltender in this matchup. He holds a +0.1 GSAx rating and .902 save percentage in 36 appearances this season.</div>
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<h2><strong>Best bets for Ducks vs. Canucks</strong></h2>
<p>While the Ducks are due to come down to earth in the near future and are at a rest disadvantage, this game seems likely to be more closely contested than oddsmakers are expecting. The Canucks have struggled mightily to create meaningful offensive outputs for the last three months of the season, and that flaw could continue versus one of the league&#8217;s best goaltenders in Gibson.</p>
<p>Anaheim&#8217;s offence is starting to look more threatening, as young talents such as Carlsson, Zegras, and Mason McTavish have started to live up to preseason expectations. While the Ducks were the ones in a favourable scheduling spot last Thursday, they did outplay the Canucks, earning a well-deserved win.</p>
<p>The Canucks&#8217; greatest strengths also work as an argument as to why this game could be somewhat of a coin-flip. Tocchet&#8217;s tactics continue to lead to a ton of low-event games, and it certainly doesn&#8217;t help that the Canucks&#8217; supposed offensive superstars aren&#8217;t offering much in the way of offensive contributions.</p>
<p>At +178, I see value backing the Ducks to pull off a shocking victory, as it feels as though the market is giving a little too much credit to the Canucks simply due to the importance of this game.</p>
<p><strong>Best bet: Anaheim Ducks Moneyline +178 (Pinnacle, Play to +168)</strong></p>


Vancouver Canucks center Filip Chytil (72) celebrates with the bench after scoring a goal against the Seattle Kraken during the first period at Climate Pledge Arena.

The Vancouver Canucks will play at home for the first time since February 8th, when they host the red-hot Anaheim Ducks on Wednesday evening.

The Canucks went 1-4-0 during their recent five-game road trip, including a 5-2 loss versus the Ducks last Thursday. As they currently sit two points behind the Calgary Flames in the playoff race with one game in hand, this game is close to a must-win, and could factor into GM Patrik Allvin's approach to Friday's Trade Deadline.

Canucks captain Quinn Hughes has been ruled out for Wednesday's matchup, leaving a massive hole on a shaky defensive core.

I'll detail the relevant game notes, as well as outline my favourite betting angle below.
<div class="bam-inline-promotion" data-property-id="329" data-promotion-id="31840" data-context="web-content-promocard"></div>
<h2 class="mb-5 text-2xl font-bold">Ducks vs. Canucks odds</h2>
<ul>
 	<li><strong class="text-lg font-bold">Ducks Moneyline Odds:</strong> +178</li>
 	<li><strong>Canucks Moneyline Odds: </strong>-200</li>
 	<li><strong>Puck Line Odds: </strong>Ducks +1.5 (-144), Canucks -1.5 (+128)</li>
 	<li><strong>Game Total: </strong>Over 5.5 (-112), Under 5.5 (+100)
<em>*Odds courtesy of Pinnacle and are subject to change.</em></li>
</ul>
<h2><strong>Anaheim Ducks</strong></h2>
The Ducks have been one of the NHL's hottest teams recently, as they hold a record of 9-3-1 over their last 13 games, which has greatly increased the chances of the team pulling off a shocking playoff berth. If they were to win this game in regulation, Anaheim would be only two points behind Vancouver with each side having played 61 games.

From an analytical perspective, the Ducks' recent 9-3-1 tear appears to be highly unsustainable. They hold an expected goal share of just 43.13%, and have allowed 4.53 more shots per hour of play than they have generated. Their 3.05 xGA/60 in that span is the worst mark in the entire league.

Even if you're someone who believes analytics can't catch everything, like myself, it's hard to argue the Ducks are currently playing as well as their record suggests. However, they continue to receive some of the league's best goaltending from Lukas Dostal and John Gibson, who continue to cover up the team's shaky defensive play.

As Dostal started last night in the team's 6-2 win over the Edmonton Oilers, Gibson will presumably get the start in this matchup. Gibson holds a +14.7 GSAx rating and .909 save percentage in 25 games played this season. Among goaltenders to make over 15 starts this season, Gibson ranks fifth in GSAx per 60.

Thanks to their incredible goaltending, the Ducks may not get another top-five pick this season, which could hurt in the big picture, but the roster does already feature a ton of quality young talent.

Sophomore defenders Olen Zellweger and Pavel Mintyukov were expected to take big steps forward this season, but it's been the surprisingly incredible play of 24-year-old Jackson LaCombe which has really boosted the upside of Anaheim's blue-line. LaCombe has put up 33 points in 53 games this season, including 13 points over his last 12 games.

2024 second-overall pick Leo Carlsson has also been trending in the right direction, as he has produced 11 points over the last 12 games. He has spent the majority of that time playing alongside Trevor Zegras, who also looks to be finding his game, and returned from a three-game suspension in last night's matchup versus Edmonton.

Robby Fabbri and Brock McGinn are the only two Ducks skaters expected to be unavailable in this matchup.
<h2><strong>Vancouver Canucks</strong></h2>
The Canucks will once again be forced to find a way without their best player in Hughes, who will miss this matchup with an undisclosed injury. To say the team owes it to their captain to earn a win in this matchup would be an understatement, as he has clearly given everything to the team, playing an entirely dominant brand of hockey while battling through numerous injuries.

With Hughes sidelined, we will likely see these defensive combinations in tonight's matchup.
<div>Marcus Pettersson – Tyler Myers
Elias Pettersson (D) – Filip Hronek
Derek Forbort – Carson Soucy</div>
<div></div>
<div>The Canucks were able to stem the tides relatively well during Hughes' most recent absence, playing to a record of 3-2-1. Marcus Pettersson has looked to be a strong acquisition, while Elias Pettersson (D) has also played quite respectably, albeit in a small sample.</div>
<div></div>
<div>Still, without Hughes the Canucks' defence core is one of the league's least capable units from an offensive perspective. The team's lack of play-driving ability on the back end is working hand-in-hand with the disappointing play of star forwards such as Elias Pettersson and Brock Boeser to create one of the least effective offences in the league.</div>
<div></div>
<div>Over the last 10 games, the Canucks have generated just 2.99 xGF/60, which ranks 23rd in the NHL, and scored only 2.20 goals per game where it counts. They have done a good job of suppressing offensive chances from their opponents in that span, but due to the team's putrid offensive play, the margin for error right now is miniscule.</div>
<div></div>
<div>Head coach Rick Tocchet has revamped his offensive units, elevating Conor Garland and Dakota Joshua to the top line alongside Elias Pettersson. Garland and Joshua have been two of the team's best players in recent matchups, and will hopefully help drag Pettersson into the fight, whose lethargic play has been arguably the single greatest problem for the team recently.</div>
<div></div>
<div>Kevin Lankinen has been confirmed as the team's starting goaltender in this matchup. He holds a +0.1 GSAx rating and .902 save percentage in 36 appearances this season.</div>
<div class="bam-inline-promotion" data-property-id="329" data-promotion-id="31838" data-context="web-content-promocard"></div>
<h2><strong>Best bets for Ducks vs. Canucks</strong></h2>
While the Ducks are due to come down to earth in the near future and are at a rest disadvantage, this game seems likely to be more closely contested than oddsmakers are expecting. The Canucks have struggled mightily to create meaningful offensive outputs for the last three months of the season, and that flaw could continue versus one of the league's best goaltenders in Gibson.

Anaheim's offence is starting to look more threatening, as young talents such as Carlsson, Zegras, and Mason McTavish have started to live up to preseason expectations. While the Ducks were the ones in a favourable scheduling spot last Thursday, they did outplay the Canucks, earning a well-deserved win.

The Canucks' greatest strengths also work as an argument as to why this game could be somewhat of a coin-flip. Tocchet's tactics continue to lead to a ton of low-event games, and it certainly doesn't help that the Canucks' supposed offensive superstars aren't offering much in the way of offensive contributions.

At +178, I see value backing the Ducks to pull off a shocking victory, as it feels as though the market is giving a little too much credit to the Canucks simply due to the importance of this game.

<strong>Best bet: Anaheim Ducks Moneyline +178 (Pinnacle, Play to +168)</strong>

NHL odds, betting preview (March 5): Ducks vs. Canucks predictions

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