The Vancouver Canucks will look to rebound from a tough loss versus the Vegas Golden Knights, as they play their second matchup of the season at the Delta Center versus the Utah Hockey Club. Utah won the previous matchup between these team’s 3-2 in overtime on December 18th.

While it did manage to best the Canucks the last time these team’s met in Salt Lake, Utah has struggled on home ice this season thus far, playing to a record of just 9-12-6. It will hope to improve upon that mark moving forward, as top-four defenders John Marino and Sean Durzi are now back in the lineup.

I’ll detail the relevant game notes, as well as outline my favourite betting angle below.

The Canucks certainly exhibited some signs of rust early on versus the Golden Knights on Saturday, in what was a respectable performance altogether given the quality of their opponent. They took two bench minors in the first period, followed by a delay of game penalty by Tyler Myers.

The penalty kill was a strength once again, as it stymied the league’s third best power play unit, though some brilliant work from Kevin Lankinen in goal was the greatest reason why.

The Golden Knights held a 16-12 edge in high danger scoring chances in the game, and were a deserving victor overall. Vancouver did make an excellent push in the third period however, and could have garnered a point if not for two disallowed goals for goaltender interference.

While most of the Vancouver’s roster struggled to generate quality scoring chances against an elite Golden Knights defence, the Canucks’ second line of Filip Chytil, Brock Boeser and Drew O’Connor was excellent, aside from an inability to finish it’s scoring opportunities. They held a 82% expected goal share in 11:30 of time on ice together, which was the most minutes offered to any unit by head coach Rick Tocchet.

Chytil poured 10 attempts towards Adin Hill, including six shots on target. His 19:11 of time-on-ice was second only to Boeser among Canucks forwards, which was certainly fair coaching from Tocchet given the way both forwards played.

Elias Pettersson (F) made some good passes to help drive possession, but did not look dynamic by any means, and still looks to be skating with less jump than we have seen throughout the majority of his career.

Quinn Hughes status for this matchup is still up in the air, but it does sound as though the Canucks Captain is close to making his return. The Canucks have done well to post a 3-1-1 record during his current absence, and hold a strong 52.96% expected goal share in those outings.

Arturs Silovs will likely get the start in this back-to-back spot with Thatcher Demko now sidelined due to injury. Silovs holds a -9.0 GSAx rating in only seven appearances, with an .847 save percentage.

Utah was among the many team’s to have a key skater return to action after the break, as top-pair defender Sean Durzi returned from a four month absence in their matchup versus the Los Angeles Kings. Durzi recorded an assist and four shots on goal in 21:37 of time on ice, and led all defenders with a 68% expected goal share.

The Hockey Club has failed to live up to expectations that this would be the season it finally snapped it’s playoff drought (formerly playing as the Arizona Coyotes), but Durzi and John Marino’s long-term injuries. Both will continue to occupy top-four defensive roles moving forward, on a core which suddenly looks quite solid once again.

Utah held a 16-7 edge in high danger chances last night versus the Kings, and suffered yet another tough luck loss.

Connor Ingram continues to struggle to find his form after offering the team excellent play last season, but has been dealing with a very tough situation as his mother passed away due to cancer on December 3rd.

As Ingram started last night, this start will presumably go to Karel Vejmelka, who has been excellent. In 34 apperances Vejmelka holds a +10.5 GSAx rating, and a .909 save percentage.

Despite relatively strong underlying results, Utah enters this matchup with a record of just 24-24-9, and will need to put together a dominant finish to the year to sneak into the postseason.  Over the last ten games Utah owns a 53.05% expected goal share at even strength, a number which will presumably only improve with Durzi and Marino back in the fold.

They are still without one major piece however, as Logan Cooley will remain sidelined due to injury. The 20-year old was in tremendous form at the time of his injury, and has a great chance of ultimately being the best selection from the 2022 NHL Entry Draft.

Given the quality of competition, the Canucks fought admirably in their loss to the Golden Knights last night, and with any luck in the third period easily could have garnered a point. The team’s newcomers looked quite sharp once again, and it feels entirely possible that the team will author a good enough finish to the season to earn a playoff berth.

While I picked the Canucks as huge underdogs last night and felt they looked respectable, I’m still not sold on backing them in this game at +137 with Silovs in goal. Utah is a team that could have a great finish to the season with their defensive core now healthy, and the prices on sides in this matchup do look fair to me.

My favorite way to back the Canucks is backing Chytil to record a point at +104, after another strong showing last night versus Vegas. He should play big minutes at even strength once again alongside Boeser, and it also wouldn’t be overly surprising to see him move back onto the top power play unit considering how last night’s game went.