The Vancouver Canucks have gotten off to a hot start in their first week back after going through a brutal COVID-19 outbreak within the organization. The team went nearly four weeks in between games, but the Canucks returned and secured a pair of home victories over the Toronto Maple Leafs, which are at the top of the North Division standings with less than a month to play in the regular season.
Vancouver has a lot of work to do in order to make up so many games it had postponed, and the Canucks are the betting favorites in their home game against the Ottawa Senators on Thursday, April 22. The game is set to get started at 10 p.m. ET from Rogers Arena in Vancouver, British Columbia.
The Canucks started their long pause after a game on March 24, and they have played at least five fewer games than the rest of the seven-team, all-Canadian North Division. Vancouver will enter Thursday night’s game with a 18-18-3 record for 39 points through 39 games, which is currently the sixth best in the division.
Vancouver returned earlier this week on Sunday for a 3-2 home win over the Maple Leafs when Bo Harvat added his second goal of the game 1:19 into the overtime session. The Canucks returned several key players for their next game, and they wound up winning 6-3 over Toronto on Tuesday night with four goals in the third period.
It’s been a struggle this season for Ottawa, which is in last place in the North Division. Through 46 games, the Senators have 36 points with a record of 16-26-4, though they have been able to string together a few wins recently. Ottawa has won three of its last four games including each of the last two. The Senators defeated the Calgary Flames on Monday night with two goals from Connor Brown.
On the Vancouver injury report, Justin Bailey is out for the rest of the season, and Jay Beagle, Michael Ferland, Tyler Motte and Elias Pettersson will all be out due to various reasons including injuries and COVID-19 protocols. Alexander Edler will also not be available for the Canucks as he is serving a suspension. Antoine Roussel left Vancouver’s previous game but is listed as questionable with a lower body injury.
For Ottawa, Joey Daccord and Derek Stepan are out for the season, while Michael Haley and Austin Watson remain on the injured reserve list and will not be available for the Senators.
Vancouver and Ottawa will play four consecutive games against one another every other day starting on Thursday night. The Canucks are 5-0 in the season series, and their last matchup took place on March 17 in a 3-2 home victory for Vancouver.
Ottawa Senators vs. Vancouver Canucks Betting Info
All odds are via a popular United States sportsbook.
Puck Line
The Senators are getting -200 odds to cover the +1.5 puck line with the Canucks puck line at +165 to cover the -1.5 goals.
Betting Trends: The Senators are 27-19 on the puck line, while Vancouver is at 18-20 this season.
Total Goals
Oddsmakers set the over/under for Thursday night’s game at six with the edge toward the over. The over is getting -122 odds with the under at +102.
Betting Trends: The total went under in 10 of Ottawa’s last 15 games, and the under cashed in nine of Vancouver’s last 13. The total went under in four of the last five games in this matchup.
Moneyline
Vancouver has -148 odds to win this game outright at home, while the Senators are at +125 on the moneyline to pull off the road upset.
Betting Trends: Vancouver is 9-4 straight up in its last 13 games, and Ottawa is 3-1 in its last four. The Canucks are 5-0 straight up in their last five games against the Senators.
