Vancouver Canucks vs Nashville Predators Prediction, Preview and Odds - 04/26/2024

Game Time: 7:30 pm ET, Friday, April 26, 2024

Venue:  Bridgestone Arena, Nashville, TN 

Where to Watch:  TBS, MAX

DraftKings:  Moneyline:  Canucks +100, Predators -120; Over/Under:  6 goals

Bet365:  Moneyline:  Canucks +100, Predators -120; Over/Under:  6 goals

BetMGM:  Moneyline:  Canucks +100, Predators -120; Over/Under:  6 goals

Vancouver Canucks:  50-23-9 (1st place, Pacific Division)

Nashville Predators:  47-30-5 (4th place, Central Division)

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Vancouver Canucks:  5-4-1 last 10

Nashville Predators:  5-4-1 last 10

The Canucks are entering this game with 109 points, a 50-23-9 record overall, and they were 23-14-4 in their road games this regular season where they will be in this game. They are entering this game off a loss against the Nashville Predators in their last game, losing that one at home 4-1. Nikita Zadorov scored 1 goal for them in that game. Ian Cole and Phillip Di Giuseppe each led the team in assists with 1 while Quinn Hughes and J. T. Miller each led the team in shots on net in that game with 3. Casey DeSmith was the starting goalie in that game and he allowed 3 goals on 15 shots with 12 saves and a .800 sv percentage. Their offense has scored 279 goals this season averaging 3.4 goals per game and their defense has allowed their opponents to score 223 goals against them allowing 2.7 goals per game.

The Predators are entering this game with 99 points, a 47-30-5 record overall, and they were 23-16-2 in their home games this regular season where they will be in this game. They are entering this game off a win against the Vancouver Canucks in their last game, winning that one on the road 4-1. Anthony Beauvillier, Filip Forsberg, Kiefer Sherwood, and Colton Sissons each scored 1 goal for them in that game. Anthony Beauvillier, Filip Forsberg, Gustav Nyquist, and Jason Zucker each led the team in assists with 1 while Anthony Beauvillier led the team in shots on net in that game with 4. Juuse Saros was the starting goalie in that game and he allowed 1 goal on 18 shots with 17 saves and a .944 save percentage. Their offense has scored 269 goals this season averaging 3.3 goals per game and their defense has allowed their opponents to score 248 goals against them allowing 3 goals per game.

The current betting odds have the Predators listed as a slight favorite in this game according to Draftkings Sportsbook. This is game 3 of a 7 game series between the 1st seeded Canucks from the Pacific Division and the 1st seeded Wild Card, the Predators, for Round 1 of the NHL Western Conference playoffs. This series is all tied up 1-1 after the Predators won game 2 of this series on the road. The Predators haven't looked great in their games this season as they just got into the playoffs in the Wild Card, but it also wasn't a close race for them since they locked up their spot with over a week left in the regular season. The Predators have been surging up the standings over the 2nd half of the season and now they are in a great situation here with a chance to take the series lead on home ice in game 3. The Predators have looked good on home ice this year with their 23-16-2 home record and they are going to have the momentum on their side from that 4-1 win in game 2. The Predators jumped out to an early lead in game 1 and ended up losing that game 4-2, but this time they held onto their lead with a solid performance for 60 minutes. Now they have the advantage going back home and it also helps out a lot that the Canucks have lost their number 1 goaltender. Thatcher Demko was a big reason why they won game 1 but he is now out with an injury and he was really missed in game 2 as DeSmith gave up 3 goals on only 15 shots. The Predators have a big edge on defense right now with the goalie change for the Canucks and this is their chance to really make the Canucks pay by flipping the home advantage in the series. The Predators will pounce at their opportunity to win game 3 with DeSmith back in the net for the Canucks. The best way to place a bet here is on the Predators to win this game. 

Canucks Predators Prediction:  Our NHL Pick for Friday, April 26, 2024 (7:30 pm ET start time) is Predators 3 Canucks 1.

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Vancouver Canucks: 14-24 (-13 units) on the moneyline revenging a loss where the team scored 1 or less goals. 35-36 (-7.3 units) on the moneyline in the first round of the playoffs. 24-11 UNDER revenging a loss where the team scored 1 or less goals. 13-7 UNDER when playing with 2 days rest. 

Nashville Predators: 12-2 (+10.4 units) on the moneyline off a road win by 2 goals or more. 48-36 (+10.5 units) on the moneyline in all games. 25-17 (+7.2 units) on the moneyline after playing a road game. 14-7 UNDER off a road win. 19-10 UNDER after scoring 4 goals or more in their previous game.

Vancouver Canucks:  T. Demko (G) Out indefinitely - Undisclosed. T. Myers (D) Ques Fri - Undisclosed. T. Poolman (D) out for season - Migraine.

Nashville Predators:  None.

“We had some chances, some looks on the (power play), some empty nets we didn’t capitalize on. Maybe we got a little frustrated. But we threw a lot of rubber around that area. We’ve got to keep doing that. I think the game plan is there, we’ve just got to start executing.” - Rick Tocchet after his team’s loss against the Predators in game 2 of this series on Tuesday.

“I think that’s maybe something we learned from Game 1 a little bit. Maybe we weren’t as committed to the pain and tonight (we were), with the blocked shots and the things that we did sacrificing our body. So we learned and we’re still growing. We’re not where we want to be, but we’re getting better and today was a good step.” - Andrew Brunette after his team’s win against the Canucks in game 2 of this series on Tuesday.

LW Suter, Pius

C Miller, J.T.

RW Boeser, Brock

LD Hughes, Quinn

RD Hronek, Filip

G DeSmith, Casey

LW Forsberg, Filip

C O'Reilly, Ryan

RW Nyquist, Gustav

LD McDonagh, Ryan

RD Josi, Roman

G Saros, Juuse

Points: J. Miller (103)

Goals: B. Boeser (40)

Assists: Q. Hughes (75)

GAA: T. Demko (2.45)

Points: F. Forsberg (94)

Goals: F. Forsberg (48)

Assists: R. Josi (62)

GAA: K. Lankinen (2.82)

Coaches:

Vancouver Canucks: Rick Tocchet (2nd season)

Nashville Predators: Andrew Brunette (1st season)