What had been a razor-thin race in the NHL’s Pacific Division, with four points separating the top five teams, has widened in the last week or so. The Vegas Golden Knights have pulled away, winners of nine out of ten, and lead the division with 82 points. The two teams in fourth and fifth place battle on Wednesday night as the Vancouver Canucks (34-25-6, 74 points) prepare to host the Arizona Coyotes (32-27-8, 72 points). Vancouver has the additional advantage of holding two games in hand over the Coyotes, but Vancouver has lost three in a row since their 9-3 rout of the Boston Bruins and a big win in Montreal. If Arizona can pick up the road win, they would move into a tie in points and look to continue their surge toward a playoff spot. If Vancouver can get the win, they would move past Calgary, at least temporarily, into third place in the Pacific. Don’t miss our sports betting preview as you plan your week’s wagers. Let’s see how the NHL odds will be for the Coyotes vs Canucks.
Coyotes vs Canucks 2020 NHL Game Preview & Betting Odds
- When: Wednesday, March 4, 2020, 10:30 pm ET
- Where: Rogers Arena, Vancouver
- TV: ESPN+
- Radio: KGME 910 AM Phoenix / CISL 650 AM Vancouver
- Live Stream: ESPN+
- NHL Odds: Vancouver -110 / O/U 5.5
Why should you bet on Arizona?
The Coyotes have split their last four games. They lost in St. Louis, 1-0, on February 20, before coming home to rout Tampa Bay, 7-3. Then they lost at home to the Florida Panthers, only netting a single goal, before spanking the Buffalo Sabres, 5-2, on Saturday. So we see that the Coyotes’ offense has been remarkably inconsistent, while their defense has been more reliable.
In their win over the Sabres, Arizona was actually down 2-0 before the midway point of the first period. However, coach Rick Tocchet just made some minor adjustments during the first intermission, and then the Coyotes ran off five unanswered goals to get the win. Clayton Keller had a pair of goals and an assist, Jordan Oesterle had a goal and an assist, and Phil Kessel added a goal. Oliver Ekman-Larsson had the icing on the cake, a shorthanded empty-net goal that traveled the length of the ice. Antti Raanta had 25 saves after that dreadful start to the game. Arizona is 9-2-3 at home since the calendar changed to 2020 — so can they keep that momentum going on the road?
Why should you put your money on Vancouver?
The Canucks started their Eastern swing well, beating the Canadiens by a goal on February 25, but then things turned sour as Vancouver lost in Ottawa, Toronto and Columbus, giving up 14 goals in those games while scoring just seven. Vancouver relies heavily on their offense to win games, as they are not the type of team to post 1-0 wins. However, when you’re giving up four or more goals, it is hard for your offense to keep pace.
The loss in Columbus came on Sunday on the second night of a back-to-back. Vancouver was actually up 3-1 going into the third period, but then the Blue Jackets stormed back to score four goals to take the win. Columbus had not won in regulation since February 7, making the night even more disappointing for the Canucks. Bo Horvat, Elias Patterson and J.T. Miller lit the lamp for Vancouver, but it was just not enough. Returning home should be a boost for Vancouver, but can they hold off an Arizona offense that can be overwhelming?
Coyotes vs Canucks Final Score Prediction
The Pacific Division is definitely an entertaining one this season. Both of these teams have dynamic offenses, but the Coyotes have had the more consistent defense lately. Arizona has been much better at home than on the road lately, which is why I see Vancouver holding on for a 5-4 win, maintaining their edge in the Pacific and moving into that all-important third slot in the standings.
