Canucks vs. Panthers Prediction and Odds: Vancouver's Extended Break Hurts their Chances in Florida
By Matt De Saro
The Vancouver Canucks finally get back on the ice after a ten-day break having last played on New Year’s Day in a 5-2 win over the Seattle Kraken. While many teams would welcome a mid-season break, the Canucks were on an 8-0-1 tear at the time after Bruce Boudreau took over coaching duties. So, this break was ill-timed.
The Canucks will not have an easy re-entry into play with a game against the Florida Pantehrs at the FLA Live Arena. The Panthers are deadly at home with an 18-3 overall record. They are one of the more exciting teams to watch and have a +1.62 average goal differential at home in 2021-22.
Here are the odds for tonight’s matchup, courtesy of WynnBET Sportsbook.
Canucks vs. Panthers Odds and Total
Moneyline:
- Canucks +185
- Panthers -220
Puck line:
- Canucks +1.5 (-125)
- Panthers -1.5 (+105)
Total:
- 6.5 (Over -110/Under -110)
Canucks vs. Panthers Prediction and Pick
The Canucks enter Tuesday night as the seventh-ranked team in the Pacific Division and trail the Golden Knights by 12 points for the division lead. The final guaranteed playoff spot is more in reach with the Flames holding a five-point advantage. This team is hard to cap because their season has to be separated into two chapters. The First was before the recent coaching change where the Canucks were 8-15-2 overall. Since then, they are 8-0-1 and look like a totally different team. But, is their new look enough to beat the best team in the Atlantic Division at home?
I think not.
Florida is the second-best team in the NHL in terms of goals per game with an average of 3.89 and their defense allows less than 3 goals per contest. They are a better team overall but, the Canucks were red-hot before their layoff. That layoff I think will be their downfall tonight.
The last thing that a team on a hot streak wants is time away. Especially if that team was playing well-above expectations and winning some games against better teams. This is how I feel about the Canucks and I think that COVID break crushed whatever momentum they had built over the last couple of weeks.
Additionally, the first game back takes them into one of the most hostile places in the NHL right now. The Panthers have lost only three games at home all year and the Canucks average just 2.72 goals per game on the road. The home team has too much talent on tap and won’t have the ring rust of a team that is coming off a lengthy break.