It’s the final game of the year, and after all, it doesn’t matter. There are no playoff implications for either team tonight, as the Vancouver Canucks have won the Pacific division, and the Winnipeg Jets have locked in a home-ice advantage in round one against the Colorado Avalanche.
Both teams are sitting players tonight in an essentially meaningless game with the playoff right around the corner.
#Canucks lineup changes for Game 82 @ WPG:
IN ▲ Phillip Di Giuseppe
IN ▲ Nils Aman
IN ▲ Mark Friedman
IN ▲ Noah Juulsen
OUT▽ Brock Boeser
OUT▽ JT Miller
OUT▽ Ian Cole
OUT▽ Filip Hronek https://t.co/EKPkMxZuso
— Daily Faceoff – Fantasy (@DFOFantasy) April 18, 2024
Looks like there's going to be A LOT of players resting for the #GoJetsGo tonight:
IN ▲ David Gustafsson (F)
IN ▲ Rasmus Kupari (F)
IN ▲ Cole Perfetti (F)
Likely IN ▲ Brad Lambert (F)
Likely IN ▲ Parker Ford (F)
Likely IN ▲ Nikita Chibrikov (F)
IN ▲ Colin Miller (D)
IN… https://t.co/lr7brRwLJA
— Daily Faceoff – Fantasy (@DFOFantasy) April 18, 2024
With the rosters and lines for tonight’s game still up in the air, there aren’t many props and lines to bet on, so we’ll be cautious with today’s bet.
Today’s confirmed goaltender matchups for our highlighted game:
The Vancouver Canucks’ Thatcher Demko (35-13-2). vs. The Winnipeg Jets’ Laurent Brossoit (14-5-2).
Thatcher Demko Under 26.5 Saves (-110)
Now, this is usually the part where I would go on a spiel about Demko’s numbers, but that’s not why we’re taking this play.
Head coach Rick Tocchet told reporters at yesterday’s practice that if tonight’s game becomes shinny (a pick-up hockey, pond hockey type feel), he won’t hesitate to pull Demko.
With the lines shown above, I’m hoping that’s what it comes down to, and we see Demko play two periods and Casey DeSmith finish the third. Demko played phenomenally in his first start back after his knee injury, making 39 saves on 40 shots against the Calgary Flames. That performance alone should indicate that Demko is back and ready for the playoffs.
What to watch out for:
If lines come out later today before game time, I like Conor Garland for a point. He’s got nine points in his last nine games and is confirmed to be playing tonight. And why not throw a tiny sprinkle on an anytime goal for Vasily Podkolzin, who just signed a two-year contract extension earlier this morning?
Last Game Recap:
Conor Garland Point – WON – (+$9.09)
Vancouver Canucks Powerplay Goal – LOSS – (-$10.00)
Elias Pettersson Goal – LOSS – (+$5.00)
The Canucks couldn’t find the back of the net on their two powerplay opportunities. Elias Pettersson passed on his two-on-one with Nils Höglander to register an assist. But good ol’ Conor Garland comes through in a big way, getting the primary assist on Dakota Joshua’s 18th of the season.
All-Time Record: 6-10 (-$52.39)