Vegas Golden Knights vs. Vancouver Canucks Prediction, Preview, Picks & Odds - 4/12/2022

Time: 10 p.m. ET

Venue: Rogers Arena, Vancouver, BC

Where to watch: ATTSN-RM, SNP

DraftKings: Check back later

BetMGM: Check back later

Caesars: Check back later

Golden Knights: 40-29-4

Canucks: 35-28-10

The rubber match is upon us, and it’s probably the biggest must-win game of the year for both the Vegas Golden Knights and Vancouver Canucks. Whoever wins is going to be firmly entrenched in the Pacific Division race, and even the Western Conference Wild Card race.

The loser is in serious trouble. And if it’s the Golden Knights, things are going to be spiraling out of control in a huge way with no parachute because this fan base is about as fickle and emotional as Charles Barkley eating a dozen donuts.

The Golden Knights and Canucks are playing for the third time in a week with both teams receiving one win apiece; Vegas winning 3-2 in overtime last Sunday, and the Canucks winning 5-1 on Wednesday in Las Vegas. By rule of thumb, the Canucks have had the better run by getting more points out of it than Vegas, so this is a must win for the road team.

But reinforcements continue to be on the way for Vegas. Max Pacioretty returned after a 12-game absence and scored a goal, and Brayden McNabb had three points for the first time ever Saturday in the Golden Knights’ 6-1 win over the Arizona Coyotes.

“We haven’t been able to be the four-line team that we want to be because of the injury situation,” Vegas coach Pete DeBoer said. “Tonight’s the first night in a long time where we had the bodies to try to play that type of game. We want to be that team, that’s what we have to be, that’s what wins in the playoffs.”

Pacioretty is the latest in the line of guys that the Golden Knights have gotten back. McNabb and fellow defenseman Alec Martinez are on that short list, as well. And if everything goes well in the final nine games, there’s a chance Mark Stone will be available for a return and the world will finally get a healthy Pacioretty, Stone and Jack Eichel on the same team.

“I’ve come back from a lot of injuries before, so it wasn’t the craziest situation to be in,” Pacioretty said of scoring in his return. “The goal feels good, but at the same time, you’re still wondering how you’re gonna manage the rest of the game. Had a little bit of a lull there in the second, but got better in the third, which is what I’m proud of the most.”

But the Canucks are not going to go down without a fight. They’ve found a level of resurgence since Bruce Boudreau took over, and now it’s showing. While Vegas needs to win to keep pace with the Dallas Stars, a win by Vancouver would pull the Canucks within two points of the Golden Knights and put them firmly in the race to catch either Dallas or the Los Angeles Kings.

Vancouver takes a three-game winning streak into this game fresh off a 4-2 win against the San Jose Sharks on Saturday. Alex Chiasson had a goal and an assist, and Bo Horvat scored his 30th goal of the season while Thatcher Demko played solid the whole night.

“It wasn’t a Picasso,” Boudreau said. “We didn’t play our best game, but we sort of grinded it out. Found a way and got great goaltending.”

In a long list of big games around the league, this might be the biggest. The team that needs to show it more is Vegas. The level of desperation needs to be evident and they need to get out early and score often while playing well in front of, likely, Robin Lehner. I can’t envision the Golden Knights not understanding the tough road in front of them and not playing their best hockey of the season in these next three games. If not, heads might roll down Las Vegas Boulevard. Golden Knights win 5-3

Golden Knights are 7-1 in last eight against division oppponents.

Under is 9-2 in last 11 after Golden Knights score five or more the last game.

Canucks are 6-0 in last six when playing on two days rest.

Golden Knights:

Evgenii Dadonov -- Jack Eichel -- Nicolas Roy

Jonathan Marchessault -- William Karlsson -- Michael Amadio

Max Pacioretty -- Chandler Stephenson -- Mattias Janmark

Jake Leschyshyn -- Jonas Rondbjerg -- Keegan Kolesar

Brayden McNabb -- Shea Theodore

Ben Hutton -- Alex Pietrangelo

Alec Martinez -- Zach Whitecloud

Robin Lehner

Canucks:

Tanner Pearson -- J.T. Miller -- Conor Garland

Elias Pettersson -- Bo Horvat -- Brock Boeser

Vasily Podkolzin -- Juho Lammikko -- Alex Chiasson

Nic Petan -- Jason Dickinson -- William Lockwood

Oliver Ekman-Larsson -- Tyler Myers

Quinn Hughes -- Luke Schenn

Travis Dermott -- Tucker Poolman

Thatcher Demko

Golden Knights:

Points: Jonathan Marchessault -- 59

Goals: Jonathan Marchessault -- 28

Assists: Chandler Stephenson -- 40

Goalie: Robin Lehner -- 23-16-1, 2.76 GAA, .909 SV%

Points: J.T. Miller -- 85

Goals: Bo Horvat -- 30

Assists: J.T. Miller -- 56

Goalie: Thatcher Demko -- 28-20-6, 2.69 GAA, .916 SV%