Face-off: 2200 ET, 28/04/2022
Arena: Rogers Arena
Vancouver fell just short of making the playoffs but will be keen to come out on top in their final home fixture versus Los Angeles.
The Kings timed their run just right by rattling off five straight wins but now appear to favour resting up ready for the post-season.
We’re happy to take 2.25 for a home victory in regular time in our Vancouver Canucks vs Los Angeles Kings predictions.
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Vancouver Canucks Odds
Vancouver had their wild card hopes dashed by a three-match winless run but rallied to see off Seattle 5-2 here on Tuesday.
Quinn Hughes had a goal and two assists to set a new franchise points record for a defenseman with 66, eclipsing the 1987 mark of Doug Lidster.
The 22-year-old was sad to miss out on the playoffs but pleased with the spirit shown by the Canucks.
He said: “It’s definitely disappointing, but we’ve got to be a little proud of ourselves and the way we pushed for the last three and a half months.
“I really do think that can carry us next year and I think our culture is really improved.”
Hughes added: “I feel my last 40 games have been the best in my career by a lot. Just my overall game, not the points.
“My rookie year, I had a lot of points, but I wasn’t controlling shifts out there. I think I’m doing a better job with that.”
This match may be tight early on, though, as Vancouver rank 28th in terms of first-period goals and Los Angeles 29th.
That makes 1.9 for under two goals to be scored in the opening 20 minutes a percentage pick from the NHL odds.
Los Angeles Kings Odds
Los Angeles looked in danger of blowing it when losing four out of five earlier this month but recovered well enough to secure a top-three finish in the Pacific Division.
The Kings have benefited from a kind run-in, beating Anaheim twice, Columbus, Chicago and Seattle.
Gabriel Vilardi had a goal and two assists as they battled back from 2-0 and 3-2 down to beat the Sharks 5-3 on the road last night.
However, after seeing his team outshot 12-2 in the first period, coach Todd McLellan said: “I don’t think we should have put ourselves in that situation.
“I didn’t think we played with any purpose that matters. We played because the game was scheduled and that was really it.”
McLellan rested a number of veterans, including defensemen Alexander Edler and Olli Maatta, plus forwards Adrian Kempe, Dustin Brown, Alex Iafallo and Anze Kopitar.
Los Angeles did still get the job done at Climate Pledge Arena, but Vancouver are better equipped to take advantage of a similarly lacklustre showing here.
Elias Pettersson is the Canucks’ top scorer after netting six times in five games to reach 32, one ahead of Bo Horvat and JT Miller.
The 23-year-old Swede will be determined to stay out in front, so 13.0 for him to break the deadlock completes our NHL predictions.
Additional stats
Last result:
VANCOUVER 5-2 Seattle
Seattle 3-5 LOS ANGELES
Season head-to-head: Los Angeles 2-1 Vancouver, Vancouver 4-0 Los Angeles
