Face-off: 2200 ET, 11/03/2022
Arena: Rogers Arena
Two in-form teams will do battle at Rogers Arena but we just feel Vancouver will be hungrier for success than Washington on home ice.
The Canucks are fighting for every point to earn a wild card berth, whereas the Capitals look comfortably on course to make the playoffs at present.
That makes the hosts worth backing at 1.91 on the money line in our Vancouver Canucks vs Washington Capitals predictions.
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Vancouver Canucks Odds
Vancouver completed a hat-trick of victories when seeing off a resurgent Montreal 5-3 at this venue on Wednesday and have now won nine of their last 11 games.
Talismanic winger JT Miller scored and had three assists to make it 21 points during a 10-game point streak.
“He’s taken over as the catalyst and the leader,” declared coach Bruce Boudreau. “It’s wonderful to see because you need that at this time of the season.”
Miller added: “We have one focus right now and that’s winning these games. We should try to win every game at home, especially.
“It’s not out of the question. We’ll take it one game at a time, but we need these wins.
“We’re a desperate team. Every game from now on out should be easy to get up for.”
The Canucks have been great to watch of late and their last nine matches have all produced at least seven goals.
Looking at the NHL odds for this contest, there is obvious appeal in 3.9 for a home win and over 6.5 total scores.
Washington Capitals Odds
Washington could still challenge for a top-three finish in the Metropolitan Division but have the safety net of a 13-point cushion in the Eastern Conference wild card race.
The Capitals scored 14 times in three straight wins over Carolina, Seattle and Calgary before going down 4-3 in overtime at Edmonton on Wednesday.
Nicklas Backstrom reached 1,000 NHL points with a goal and an assist versus the Oilers and TJ Oshie earned them a point with an equaliser 1.8 seconds from the end of regular time.
Connor McDavid scored his 30th goal of the season to settle the issue but coach Peter Laviolette said: “It was a heck of an effort by the guys.
“It’s unfortunate and disappointing when it doesn’t go your way, because you work so hard for it to try and get it done and it doesn’t happen.
“But I felt the guys kept competing and competing and didn’t stop until the end.”
That really was a sterling effort just 24 hours after a hard-fought 5-4 triumph at Calgary but Washington may just feel it here.
If Vancouver can play at their usual high tempo, we like 4.0 for a home win in regular time and both teams to score at least twice for our Canucks vs Capitals predictions.
Additional stats
Last result:
VANCOUVER 5-3 Montreal
Edmonton 4-3 WASHINGTON (OT)
Season head-to-head: Washington 2-4 Vancouver
