NHL Odds, Preview, Prediction: Senators vs. Canucks

Senators vs. Canucks Odds

The Pacific Division's Vancouver Canucks host the Atlantic Division's Ottawa Senators in an interesting tilt on Saturday evening.

Seemingly hitting their stride at the perfect time, Ottawa has now won six of its past seven games as it continues its playoff push.

Here's a look at the odds, as well as our betting pick and prediction for Senators vs. Canucks.

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Ottawa Senators

Entering this contest in dominant form, the Ottawa Senators can thank their offense for coming alive during this 6-1 stretch. Over that span, the Sens have scored at least five goals in all six of their victories.

After a slow first-half of the season, this positive regression offensively is not shocking. At 5-on-5, Ottawa ranks just 25th in the league in goals for per 60 minutes (GF/60), but ninth in xGF/60.

The Brady Tkachuk-Claude Giroux-Tim Stutzle line has been particularly dominant lately, leaving the doubters of Stutzle's extension looking silly. Ottawa's blue line is also starting to improve, surrendering two or fewer goals in four of those six aforementioned victories.

Again, this turnaround should not be surprising given that the Sens rank in the top-half of the league in expected goals against per 60 minutes (xGA/60) at 5-on-5. Backing up this improving blue line is goaltender Mads Sogaard, who is definitely the biggest question mark for this club moving forward.

However, he is 5-1-1 through his first seven starts, although that is in large part due to the better play in front of him than it is his own performance.

Vancouver Canucks

While the Vancouver Canucks have marginally improved under new head coach Rick Tocchet, their underlying metrics are still a mess and most of their recent wins have been squeaked out against lower-level teams.

At 5-on-5, Vancouver ranks just 25th in the league in both xGF/60 and xGA/60. Backing up this mess of a lineup is goaltender Collin Delia, who is projected to start Saturday.

Through 15 appearances, Delia possesses a troubling .876 save percentage (SV%) and a 3.51 goals against average (GAA). If he qualified, he would rank 28th among starting goaltenders in goals saved above expected per 60 minutes (GSAx/60) at 5-on-5.

In his lone career start against Ottawa, he allowed three goals on 10 shots before getting pulled in the first period.

Senators vs. Canucks Pick

It is possible Vancouver goes with Thatcher Demko in net instead of Delia, who has made four starts over the past five games since returning from injury. However, I think it is more logical to give Demko the needed break, especially following an overtime victory over the Anaheim Ducks .

With that said, even if the Canucks go with Demko, who is obviously better than Delia, I still like the Senators to take care of business on the road. While Demko has been solid since returning, he still possesses a .895 SV% and a 3.56 GAA on the season.

Both of those marks are lower than Sogaard's. Over Demko's past three starts against Ottawa, he is 1-1-1 with a .857 SV% and a 3.66 GAA.

With the superior offense and defense, back the Sens to grab another massive two points on the road.

Pick: Senators Moneyline | Play to -145

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