Saturday Night Hockey: Predictions, Props, and Odds for Canucks vs Golden Knights

• The Golden Knights host the Canucks on Saturday night (Feb. 22)
• The latest NHL odds heavily favor VGK, with Quinn Hughes ruled out
• Read below for Canucks vs Golden Knights prediction, player props and odds

A Pacific Division rivalry is renewed when the Vegas Golden Knights host the Vancouver Canucks at T-Mobile Arena tonight (10pm ET). It’s the first game for both squads following the break for the 4 Nations Faceoff.

The NHL odds are siding with the home team, pricing the Golden Knights as heavy favorites. The Vancouver Canucks will be without Quinn Hughes, which has clearly impacted the betting line.

Here is a look at the Canucks vs Golden Knights odds, along with our expert NHL prediction.

Prediction

• Canucks Team Total Goals Under 2.5 (-150 at DK)

I like Vegas a lot in this spot, but finding the best way to bet them is the tough part. At their current moneyline price, you’d have to wager $225 on their moneyline just to win $100. Betting the puck line at plus money is another option, but these teams don’t tend to play many blowouts.

I’m looking at the Vancouver team total for this game, which varies from 2 to 2.5 depending on the sportsbook. At DraftKings, you can bet Vancouver under 2.5 goals at -150 odds. I think this is a fair price for a Canucks team that’s going to have trouble generating offense.

The Canucks rank 23rd in goals per game (2.80) and haven’t scored more than 3 goals in a game since late January. They must now face a VGK defense that has allowed just 48.93 expected goals this season, fourth-best in the NHL. No Shea Theodore hurts Vegas, but the Canucks could be without star forward Elias Pettersson.

Vegas goalie Adin Hill is a key reason to consider fading the Canucks in the Saturday NHL odds. He’s struggled of late with a .900 save percentage on the season, but against Vancouver, he owns a stellar .919 career sv%. He’ll be playing with an extra chip on his shoulder after Jordan Binnington got the start for Canada at 4 Nations over him.

The Golden Knights have picked up six straight victories over divisional opponents, and I believe they’ll shut down another Pacific Division foe Saturday night. In their first meeting at the Fortress, Vancouver managed only 20 shots in a 3-1 defeat. Vegas is only allowing 26.4 shots per game (4th).

Quinn Hughes is such a huge driver of the Canucks offense, as they generate significantly fewer scoring chances without him in the fold. The Norris odds contender leads the team with 66 points, and no Vancouver forward even has more than 35 points through 55 games. That’s a recipe for disaster against elite defensive teams.

Player Props to Target

Which NHL player props should be on your radar for Canucks vs Golden Knights tonight? Because the total is set low at 5.5 and we are betting the Under on the Canucks team total, we are highlighting defensive props in our article.

VAN-VGK Blocked Shots Props

NHL player props as of Feb. 22 at ESPN Bet.

I’m targeting Brayden McNabb in the NHL player props and throwing his blocked shots Over into my Canucks vs Knights same-game parlay. DraftKings has McNabb over 1.5 blocked shots at -182, but you can get a slightly better price at ESPN Bet (-175). I’m also not opposed to targeting McNabb 3+ blocks at plus-money.

Vegas’ elite defensive structure is heavily built on blocked shots, and McNabb plays a key role in sacrificing the body. There has only been one instance in the past seven games in which the veteran rearguard hasn’t recorded multiple shot blocks.

The Canucks rank second-last in the NHL in shots per game (25.5) but they are actually 18th in shot attempts. This means they are actually firing a decent amount of pucks towards the goal but are either missing or getting their shots blocked.

After getting plenty of rest, I expect Vancouver to maintain a decent shot volume Saturday, leading to a healthy amount of blocks for the VGK blueliners.

Canucks vs Knights Odds

The Canucks vs Golden Knights odds show Vegas as heavy -215 moneyline favorites. This is an implied win probability of 68.3%. You’d need to bet $215 to win $100 (plus your bet back) if the Knights win.

The Canucks, meanwhile, are +180 moneyline underdogs, meaning they have 35.7% implied win probability. If you bet $100, you’d win $180 (plus your original bet back) if the Canucks win.

Odds as of Feb. 22, at ESPN Sportsbook. Bet on Canucks vs Knights with the ESPN Bet promo code.

The Knights are -1.5 on the puck line with +120 odds to win by two or more goals. The Canucks are heavy -145 favorites to keep it within two goals. So, while the Knights are heavily favored to win, oddsmakers aren’t confident it will be by multiple goals.

The over/under, meanwhile, is set at 5.5, with -125 odds actually favoring the Under. The first meeting only saw four total goals scored. However, the prior two affairs were high-scoring affairs that soared over the total.

The Vancouver Canucks are set to face off against the Vegas Golden Knights in what promises to be an exciting Saturday night hockey match-up. Both teams have been playing well recently, with the Canucks coming off a win against the Calgary Flames and the Golden Knights defeating the Arizona Coyotes.

The Canucks will be looking to continue their winning streak and improve their standing in the Pacific Division. Led by captain Bo Horvat and rookie sensation Nils Hoglander, the Canucks have shown a strong offensive presence this season. Goalie Thatcher Demko has also been solid between the pipes, making key saves to keep his team in games.

On the other side, the Golden Knights have been one of the top teams in the NHL this season. With a potent offense led by Mark Stone and Max Pacioretty, as well as a strong defensive core anchored by Shea Theodore and Alex Pietrangelo, the Golden Knights have been a force to be reckoned with. Goalie Marc-Andre Fleury has also been playing at a high level, making crucial saves to secure wins for his team.

In terms of predictions, this game could go either way. Both teams have been playing well and have the talent to come out on top. The Canucks will need to continue their strong offensive play and get solid goaltending from Demko in order to secure a win. The Golden Knights will need to shut down Vancouver’s top scorers and capitalize on their own scoring opportunities.

As for props and odds, the Golden Knights are currently favored to win this match-up. However, the Canucks have shown that they can compete with top teams in the league and should not be counted out. Bettors may want to consider taking a look at the over/under for total goals scored, as both teams have the ability to put up points.

Overall, Saturday night’s game between the Canucks and Golden Knights promises to be an exciting and competitive match-up. Fans can expect fast-paced action, highlight-reel goals, and stellar goaltending. Whether you’re rooting for Vancouver or Vegas, this game is sure to be a must-watch for hockey fans everywhere.