After a 3-2 win in San Jose, the Vancouver Canucks continue their California road trip on Tuesday, visiting the Ducks in Anaheim.

Canucks vs. Ducks Odds

  • Vancouver Canucks Moneyline: -200
  • Anaheim Ducks Moneyline: +165
  • Puck Line: Canucks -1.5 (+120), Ducks +1.5 (-145)
  • Game Total: 6 (Over -120, Under +100)
Odds courtesy of Sports Interaction.

Matchup

Vancouver started the season 0-1-2, but the Canucks have gone 5-2 straight up since then, despite two losses in their last three games. They are currently tied with the Calgary Flames and Edmonton Oilers for third place in the Pacific Division, but they’ve got two games in hand on Calgary and three games in hand on Edmonton. 
Meanwhile, the Ducks began a stretch of six consecutive home games on Sunday with a 4-2 loss to the Chicago Blackhawks. Anaheim (4-5-2) has lost six of their last eight games. Their only wins have come against San Jose (2), Utah, and the New York Islanders. 
The Canucks are 8-2 against Anaheim over the last 10 meetings, including eight straight victories.
Check out Daily Faceoff to get updates regarding the line combinations and goaltenders for today’s game.

Handicapping the Canucks (5-5 SU, 4-6 ATS, 4-6 O/U)

According to Evolving Hockey, Vancouver ranks ninth in five-on-five expected goals percentage, primarily due to a strong defensive effort. The Canucks are sixth in expected goals against per 60 minutes at five-on-five, allowing them to remain competitive despite the absence of starting goaltender Thatcher Demko. However, their offence has struggled, with only three games this season in which they scored more than three goals, placing them in the league’s bottom half for five-on-five scoring.
The Canucks’ power play ranks 23rd, converting just 5 of 31 opportunities (16.13 percent) and failing to score in their last four games despite 24 minutes with the man advantage. They started strong, scoring three power play goals in their first three games, but have now failed to convert in six of their last seven. On a positive note, the team’s penalty kill is ranked 10th, successfully killing off five of 30 penalties, although they did allow four shorthanded goals in their first four games. Recently, their penalty kill has improved, going 2-for-17 over the last six games.
While Kevin Lankinen (5-0-2) has had a strong start, Vancouver must support their goaltenders with more scoring, especially as they have given up more goals than last season. Last year, the Canucks generated 3.31 expected goals for while conceding 2.98 expected goals against per 60 minutes. This season, despite conceding fewer expected goals per 60, they are generating only 2.8 expected goals per hour, which explains the drop in their scoring from 3.31 goals to 2.95 goals per 60 minutes.

Handicapping the Ducks (4-7 SU, 7-4 ATS, 2-8-1  O/U)

Both the Canucks and Ducks are benefiting from unexpected strong goaltending. The Canucks have achieved success through a team effort, while the Ducks rely heavily on goaltender Lukas Dostal. The 24-year-old has started nine of Anaheim’s 11 games and ranks second in goals saved above expected, according to Evolving Hockey.
Last season, Dostal (4-3-2) performed solidly but couldn’t lift a struggling team, and it’s unclear if he can maintain his current form. Despite allowing fewer five-on-five goals per 60 minutes than all but four teams, the Ducks are ranked 31st in expected goals against and shots against. They often struggle to win unless Dostal delivers an exceptional performance, as they score among the lowest per 60 minutes at five-on-five.
While Anaheim’s speedy forwards create power-play opportunities, the team ranks in the bottom 10 for both power play (5-for-36) and penalty kill (8-for-29) this season. Their penalty kill sits at 31st in expected goals against. Thus, while the Canucks may struggle to generate expected goals on the power play, facing the Ducks could be an opportunity for improvement.

My Best Bets

Quinn Hughes Over 3.5 Shots On Goal (+125)

Hughes has registered four-plus shots in five out of his last seven games and he’s been particularly good on the road, going over 3.5 shots on goal in all but one of the five road games he’s played. Defenders like Kris Letang, Erik Karlsson, Noah Dobson, Adam Pelech, Adam Fox, and Dougie Hamilton have padded their shot totals when playing the Ducks in recent games, and Hughes is next in line.  And, while Hughes isn’t known for his goal-scoring, he’s worth considering as an anytime goalscorer at +410, given the handicap. Since Oct. 15, Hughes leads all defensemen in shot attempts and shots on goal.
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