<p>The <a href="https://canucksarmy.com/combinations">Vancouver Canucks</a> will wrap up their five-game road trip when they visit Climate Pledge Arena Saturday evening to play the Seattle Kraken.</p>
<p>The Canucks have started the road trip 1-3-0, and offered an embarrassing performance Thursday in a 5-2 loss versus the Anaheim Ducks. They do still own a one-point lead over the Calgary Flames for the final playoff spot entering Saturday&#8217;s NHL slate, but the Utah Hockey Club and St. Louis Blues are also in striking distance thanks to respective three-game win streaks.</p>
<p>While the Kraken are essentially eliminated from playoff contention, they are betting favourites in this matchup, as they will play on home ice with a significant rest advantage.</p>
<p>I&#8217;ll detail the relevant game notes, as well as outline my favourite betting angle below.</p>
<h2 class="mb-5 text-2xl font-bold">Canucks vs. Kraken odds</h2>
<table style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;" border="1">
<tbody>
<tr style="height: 24px;">
<td style="width: 50%; height: 24px;">Canucks Moneyline</td>
<td style="width: 50%; height: 24px;">+102</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 24px;">
<td style="width: 50%; height: 24px;">Kraken Moneyline</td>
<td style="width: 50%; height: 24px;">-112</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 24px;">
<td style="width: 50%; height: 24px;">Puck Line</td>
<td style="width: 50%; height: 24px;">Canucks +1.5 (-259), Kraken -1.5 (+222)</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 24px;">
<td style="width: 50%; height: 24px;">Total</td>
<td style="width: 50%; height: 24px;">Over 5.5 (+101), Under 5.5 (-114)</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p><em>Odds courtesy of Pinnacle and are subject to change.</em></p>
<div class="bam-inline-promotion" data-property-id="325" data-promotion-id="31838" data-context="web-content-promocard"></div>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h2><strong>Vancouver Canucks</strong></h2>
<p>After garnering a 2-0 lead in the first period versus the Ducks, the Canucks seemed to run of gas in the second and third periods playing night two of a back-to-back. The Ducks looked to be the faster side in the matchup and received more dynamic play from their top two offensive units.</p>
<p>The Ducks held a 10-6 edge in high danger scoring chances, and as expected, Lukas Dostal offered superior play in goal compared to Arturs Silovs.</p>
<p>It&#8217;s tough to win a road back-to-back without your top forwards creating some offence, and it was yet another highly disappointing performance from <a href="https://canucksarmy.com/news/vancouver-canucks-trade-deadline-approach-boeser-pettersson-path-forward-canucks-conversation">Elias Pettersson</a>, while Filip Chytil also had what was likely his worst game as a Canuck.</p>
<p>The Canucks once again went with 11 forwards and seven defencemen versus Anaheim, but it would be surprising to see that alignment again in tonight&#8217;s matchup. Head coach Rick Tocchet likely was hoping to offer any wingers who had some jump early some extra minutes and help to manage Quinn Hughes&#8217; workload. Seventh defender Derek Forbort didn&#8217;t seem to serve much purpose, however, and due to the 11/7 arrangement, there was little consistency in the line compilations.</p>
<p>Over the last 10 games the Canucks are 5-4-1, and hold an expected goal share of 48.8%. They continue to play a very low event brand of hockey, as they have 24.78 shots for per 60 in that span, but have limited opponents to just 25.79 shots against per 60.</p>
<p>Having Hughes back in the mix should help to alleviate the offensive concerns to some extent, but it takes more than one elite offensive defender to drive an offence to decent results. They simply need better play from Pettersson and other top forwards to remain in the playoff race, even if their recent acquisitions have raised the team&#8217;s floor to some extent.</p>
<p>Boeser also hasn&#8217;t looked overly threatening by any means, and if management could get a fair trade offer for the pending free agent, it would certainly make sense to take it, especially if the reports that he turned down a <a href="https://canucksarmy.com/news/seravalli-vancouver-canucks-offer-brock-boeser-previously-offered-five-years">five-year offer worth north of eight million</a> per season are accurate.</p>
<p>Kevin Lankinen will likely get the start in goal after serving as the backup on Thursday. He holds a +5.3 GSAx rating and a .907 save percentage in 36 appearances this season.</p>
<h2><strong>Seattle Kraken</strong></h2>
<div data-property-id="329" data-promotion-id="31839" data-context="web-content-promocard">There are only five teams that have no realistic shot of earning a postseason berth this season, and they can be viewed as clear-cut sellers ahead of the Trade Deadline on March 7th as a result. The Seattle Kraken are one of them, as they currently are nine points back of the Canucks having played one more game.</div>
<div data-property-id="329" data-promotion-id="31839" data-context="web-content-promocard"></div>
<div data-property-id="329" data-promotion-id="31839" data-context="web-content-promocard">The Kraken do have some appealing pieces, as depth forwards such as Brandon Tanev and Yanni Gourde could yield a solid return, but they are not part of the long-term solution in Seattle. The Kraken&#8217;s most notable piece of potential trade bait is Jared McCann, who has some serious offensive upside and has a very team-friendly five million dollar cap hit through the 2026-27 season.</div>
<div data-property-id="329" data-promotion-id="31839" data-context="web-content-promocard"></div>
<div data-property-id="329" data-promotion-id="31839" data-context="web-content-promocard">McCann leads the team with 43 points, despite ranking fourth among Kraken forwards in average time-on-ice. Over the last two seasons, McCann scored 69 goals in 159 games and is having a down year with just 15 in his first 60 contests.</div>
<div data-property-id="329" data-promotion-id="31839" data-context="web-content-promocard"></div>
<div data-property-id="329" data-promotion-id="31839" data-context="web-content-promocard">He&#8217;s currently skating on the third line alongside Shane Wright and Andre Burakovsky, as well as the top power play unit. The trio has been in better form of late, and McCann has been one of the many skaters that does look to be in better form coming out of the break.</div>
<div data-property-id="329" data-promotion-id="31839" data-context="web-content-promocard"></div>
<div data-property-id="329" data-promotion-id="31839" data-context="web-content-promocard">McCann has started to bounce back from a shot volume perspective, as he has averaged 3.66 shots per game over the last six matchups, as well as 5.66 attempts per game.</div>
<div data-property-id="329" data-promotion-id="31839" data-context="web-content-promocard"></div>
<div data-property-id="329" data-promotion-id="31839" data-context="web-content-promocard">The Kraken are a better side than their overall record suggests when Joey Daccord starts in goal, as he holds a respectable record of 20-15-3. Former backup Philipp Grubauer still ranks last in the NHL with a GSAx of -17.5, and his horrible play prior to being sent to the minors sewered the Kraken&#8217;s overall record.</div>
<div data-property-id="329" data-promotion-id="31839" data-context="web-content-promocard"></div>
<div data-property-id="329" data-promotion-id="31839" data-context="web-content-promocard">Daccord owns a +19.3 GSAx and .914 save percentage and is expected to get the start in this matchup.</div>
<h2><strong>Best bets for Canucks vs. Kraken</strong></h2>
<p>The Kraken are better than their overall record suggests with Daccord in goal, but this matchup still offers two points the Canucks absolute need to garner. It&#8217;s possible that the result of this game could even have some say in management&#8217;s approach to the trade deadline, as with a loss, it would be pretty hard to feel this season is going anywhere.</p>
<p>It wouldn&#8217;t surprise me to see the Canucks earn a critical win with a desperate performance in this spot, but the betting prices do seem relatively fair given Vancouver&#8217;s play on this road trip.</p>
<p>There does look to be value backing McCann to record over 2.5 shots on goal at +154. McCann is the best shooter on the team by a margin and has started to pour pucks on goal at the rate we are more accustomed to seeing of late. The Canucks do play a low event brand of hockey, but +154 still seems to be an excellent number for a prop which has hit in five of the last six games.</p>
<p><strong>Best bet: Jared McCann over 2.5 shots on goal +154 (Pinnacle, play to +144)</strong></p>


The <a href="https://canucksarmy.com/combinations">Vancouver Canucks</a> will wrap up their five-game road trip when they visit Climate Pledge Arena Saturday evening to play the Seattle Kraken.

The Canucks have started the road trip 1-3-0, and offered an embarrassing performance Thursday in a 5-2 loss versus the Anaheim Ducks. They do still own a one-point lead over the Calgary Flames for the final playoff spot entering Saturday's NHL slate, but the Utah Hockey Club and St. Louis Blues are also in striking distance thanks to respective three-game win streaks.

While the Kraken are essentially eliminated from playoff contention, they are betting favourites in this matchup, as they will play on home ice with a significant rest advantage.

I'll detail the relevant game notes, as well as outline my favourite betting angle below.
<h2 class="mb-5 text-2xl font-bold">Canucks vs. Kraken odds</h2>
<table style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;" border="1">
<tbody>
<tr style="height: 24px;">
<td style="width: 50%; height: 24px;">Canucks Moneyline</td>
<td style="width: 50%; height: 24px;">+102</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 24px;">
<td style="width: 50%; height: 24px;">Kraken Moneyline</td>
<td style="width: 50%; height: 24px;">-112</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 24px;">
<td style="width: 50%; height: 24px;">Puck Line</td>
<td style="width: 50%; height: 24px;">Canucks +1.5 (-259), Kraken -1.5 (+222)</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 24px;">
<td style="width: 50%; height: 24px;">Total</td>
<td style="width: 50%; height: 24px;">Over 5.5 (+101), Under 5.5 (-114)</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<em>Odds courtesy of Pinnacle and are subject to change.</em>
<div class="bam-inline-promotion" data-property-id="325" data-promotion-id="31838" data-context="web-content-promocard"></div>
&nbsp;
<h2><strong>Vancouver Canucks</strong></h2>
After garnering a 2-0 lead in the first period versus the Ducks, the Canucks seemed to run of gas in the second and third periods playing night two of a back-to-back. The Ducks looked to be the faster side in the matchup and received more dynamic play from their top two offensive units.

The Ducks held a 10-6 edge in high danger scoring chances, and as expected, Lukas Dostal offered superior play in goal compared to Arturs Silovs.

It's tough to win a road back-to-back without your top forwards creating some offence, and it was yet another highly disappointing performance from <a href="https://canucksarmy.com/news/vancouver-canucks-trade-deadline-approach-boeser-pettersson-path-forward-canucks-conversation">Elias Pettersson</a>, while Filip Chytil also had what was likely his worst game as a Canuck.

The Canucks once again went with 11 forwards and seven defencemen versus Anaheim, but it would be surprising to see that alignment again in tonight's matchup. Head coach Rick Tocchet likely was hoping to offer any wingers who had some jump early some extra minutes and help to manage Quinn Hughes' workload. Seventh defender Derek Forbort didn't seem to serve much purpose, however, and due to the 11/7 arrangement, there was little consistency in the line compilations.

Over the last 10 games the Canucks are 5-4-1, and hold an expected goal share of 48.8%. They continue to play a very low event brand of hockey, as they have 24.78 shots for per 60 in that span, but have limited opponents to just 25.79 shots against per 60.

Having Hughes back in the mix should help to alleviate the offensive concerns to some extent, but it takes more than one elite offensive defender to drive an offence to decent results. They simply need better play from Pettersson and other top forwards to remain in the playoff race, even if their recent acquisitions have raised the team's floor to some extent.

Boeser also hasn't looked overly threatening by any means, and if management could get a fair trade offer for the pending free agent, it would certainly make sense to take it, especially if the reports that he turned down a <a href="https://canucksarmy.com/news/seravalli-vancouver-canucks-offer-brock-boeser-previously-offered-five-years">five-year offer worth north of eight million</a> per season are accurate.

Kevin Lankinen will likely get the start in goal after serving as the backup on Thursday. He holds a +5.3 GSAx rating and a .907 save percentage in 36 appearances this season.
<h2><strong>Seattle Kraken</strong></h2>
<div data-property-id="329" data-promotion-id="31839" data-context="web-content-promocard">There are only five teams that have no realistic shot of earning a postseason berth this season, and they can be viewed as clear-cut sellers ahead of the Trade Deadline on March 7th as a result. The Seattle Kraken are one of them, as they currently are nine points back of the Canucks having played one more game.</div>
<div data-property-id="329" data-promotion-id="31839" data-context="web-content-promocard"></div>
<div data-property-id="329" data-promotion-id="31839" data-context="web-content-promocard">The Kraken do have some appealing pieces, as depth forwards such as Brandon Tanev and Yanni Gourde could yield a solid return, but they are not part of the long-term solution in Seattle. The Kraken's most notable piece of potential trade bait is Jared McCann, who has some serious offensive upside and has a very team-friendly five million dollar cap hit through the 2026-27 season.</div>
<div data-property-id="329" data-promotion-id="31839" data-context="web-content-promocard"></div>
<div data-property-id="329" data-promotion-id="31839" data-context="web-content-promocard">McCann leads the team with 43 points, despite ranking fourth among Kraken forwards in average time-on-ice. Over the last two seasons, McCann scored 69 goals in 159 games and is having a down year with just 15 in his first 60 contests.</div>
<div data-property-id="329" data-promotion-id="31839" data-context="web-content-promocard"></div>
<div data-property-id="329" data-promotion-id="31839" data-context="web-content-promocard">He's currently skating on the third line alongside Shane Wright and Andre Burakovsky, as well as the top power play unit. The trio has been in better form of late, and McCann has been one of the many skaters that does look to be in better form coming out of the break.</div>
<div data-property-id="329" data-promotion-id="31839" data-context="web-content-promocard"></div>
<div data-property-id="329" data-promotion-id="31839" data-context="web-content-promocard">McCann has started to bounce back from a shot volume perspective, as he has averaged 3.66 shots per game over the last six matchups, as well as 5.66 attempts per game.</div>
<div data-property-id="329" data-promotion-id="31839" data-context="web-content-promocard"></div>
<div data-property-id="329" data-promotion-id="31839" data-context="web-content-promocard">The Kraken are a better side than their overall record suggests when Joey Daccord starts in goal, as he holds a respectable record of 20-15-3. Former backup Philipp Grubauer still ranks last in the NHL with a GSAx of -17.5, and his horrible play prior to being sent to the minors sewered the Kraken's overall record.</div>
<div data-property-id="329" data-promotion-id="31839" data-context="web-content-promocard"></div>
<div data-property-id="329" data-promotion-id="31839" data-context="web-content-promocard">Daccord owns a +19.3 GSAx and .914 save percentage and is expected to get the start in this matchup.</div>
<h2><strong>Best bets for Canucks vs. Kraken</strong></h2>
The Kraken are better than their overall record suggests with Daccord in goal, but this matchup still offers two points the Canucks absolute need to garner. It's possible that the result of this game could even have some say in management's approach to the trade deadline, as with a loss, it would be pretty hard to feel this season is going anywhere.

It wouldn't surprise me to see the Canucks earn a critical win with a desperate performance in this spot, but the betting prices do seem relatively fair given Vancouver's play on this road trip.

There does look to be value backing McCann to record over 2.5 shots on goal at +154. McCann is the best shooter on the team by a margin and has started to pour pucks on goal at the rate we are more accustomed to seeing of late. The Canucks do play a low event brand of hockey, but +154 still seems to be an excellent number for a prop which has hit in five of the last six games.

<strong>Best bet: Jared McCann over 2.5 shots on goal +154 (Pinnacle, play to +144)</strong>

NHL odds, betting preview (March. 1): Canucks vs. Kraken predictions

Breaking News