Ducks vs Canucks Predictions & Picks - Anaheim's Power Play Sinks Vancouver
- Anaheim Ducks are tipped to win and Cutter Gauthier to score a goal.
- Vancouver allows the most goals per game and has a poor penalty kill.
- Neither team's goaltending is reliable, suggesting potential for goals.
By Ryan Tucker • Sports Editor & Betting Analyst
Sports Tipster & Betting Model Expert
Fact Checked by: Jeremy Darke•Updated:
Ducks vs Canucks Expert Predictions & Picks
I'm taking the Anaheim Ducks moneyline in Vancouver on Tuesday, Nov. 3, at 9 p.m. ET and Cutter Gauthier to score a goal.
Vancouver is 3-12-1 and has won once in 7 home games. The team allows 4.50 goals a game, the most in the league, and its penalty kill ranks 30th at 66.7%. Anaheim's power play ranks second at 34%, and the Ducks have scored 6 goals in each of their last 2 games.
Gauthier has 5 goals in his last 2 games and 6 power-play goals this season. He has 4+ shots in 4 straight and 25 shots over his last 5, against a team that allows 31.9 shots a game, the most in the NHL.
Key Stats
- Vancouver has won just 1 of 7 home games this season
- Anaheim's power play converts 34%, while Vancouver's penalty kill ranks 30th
- Gauthier has 4+ shots on goal in 4 straight games
- 31.9 shots allowed per game is the worst mark in the league, and it belongs to Vancouver
Head to Head
Vancouver won the only meeting this season 6-5 in overtime in Anaheim on Oct. 27.
Last season, Vancouver won 3 of 4: 5-4 in Anaheim in November, 2-0 at home in January and 4-3 in overtime in Anaheim in April. Anaheim's win was 5-3 in Vancouver in March. Three of those 4 games went over 6.5, and so did this season's 6-5 game.
Anaheim Ducks Form
Goaltending is the worry. Lukas Dostal (.872) and Laurent Brossoit (.870) are the projected options, and neither is confirmed. Anaheim allows 3.79 goals a game, 30th in the league.
The offense is carrying the team. Leo Carlsson has 10 points in his last 5 games, and Jackson LaCombe has points in 6 straight. Troy Terry and Ryan Poehling are on injured reserve.
Vancouver Canucks Form
Thatcher Demko is on injured reserve, which leaves Leevi Meriläinen (.897) as the projected starter, not confirmed. Vancouver has lost 4 of its last 5 and scored 14 goals in that stretch.
The Canucks get only 21.5 shots a game. Elias Pettersson leads the team with 16 points, and Filip Hronek has a 5-game point streak.
Verdict
Vancouver's defense and penalty kill give Anaheim's power play exactly what it wants. I'm on the Ducks and Gauthier to keep his hot hand going. Neither crease inspires much to be brutally honest, could be goals here.
Ryan Tucker
Sports Editor & Betting Analyst • Sports Tipster & Betting Model Expert
Ryan is a sports content writer and editor, producing insights and analysis for major sports including NFL, NHL, NBA and more.
Born in Australia, multiple trips to North America deepened his love for the four major US sports and a continuing dream to catch as much live action as possible.
Stats and data analysis has now outgrown the hobby tag and the countless models and simulations are now being put to good use writing previews and predictions for all major sporting events across basketball, ice hockey, baseball, football and Australian sports that are still close to his heart.