Vegas Golden Knights vs Vancouver-canucks Picks and Predictions December 19th 2024

Golden Knights Look to Embrace Home Comforts vs. Canucks

The Vegas Golden Knights return home after a taxing road stretch, ready to host the Vancouver Canucks in a key Pacific Division matchup.

Golden Knights Seek Momentum at Home

After navigating a challenging stretch with nine of their last 13 games on the road, the Vegas Golden Knights are eager to make the most of a favorable schedule. Thursday’s game against the Vancouver Canucks kicks off a three-game homestand, with five of their final six December games slated for T-Mobile Arena.

The Golden Knights have been dominant at home this season, boasting an 11-3-0 record. Sitting atop the Pacific Division, three points ahead of the Los Angeles Kings, Vegas sees this homestand as an opportunity to solidify their position and potentially close the gap on the league-leading Winnipeg Jets.

Head coach Bruce Cassidy is optimistic about the chance to settle in and capitalize on the schedule.

“It’s great to be back at home,” Cassidy said. “We’ve spent a lot of time on the road. Now we need to take advantage of the schedule in front of us.”

The Knights are coming off a 3-2 victory over the Minnesota Wild on Sunday, a hard-fought game that capped a demanding three-games-in-four-nights road swing. The team has enjoyed a rare three-day break leading into Thursday’s clash, providing rest and preparation for a stretch without back-to-backs and limited travel.

“You’ve got to win the games where you’ve had some rest,” Cassidy added. “There shouldn’t be a lack of energy or mental mistakes, but we’ve got to go out there and play.”

Canucks Look to Regroup After Tough Loss

The Vancouver Canucks, by contrast, come into Thursday’s game on the back end of a back-to-back. They dropped a 3-2 overtime decision to the Utah Hockey Club on Wednesday despite holding a 2-0 lead early in the third period.

Goals by Danton Heinen and Dakota Joshua had given the Canucks control, but Utah stormed back with two late goals, including a power-play tally by Dylan Guenther. Mikhail Sergachev completed the comeback for Utah in overtime, scoring with just 11.4 seconds left.

“We let our foot off the gas,” Joshua admitted. “They’re a good team, and we let that one get away.”

Vancouver coach Rick Tocchet emphasized the importance of locking down games when leading, particularly on the road.

“It’s 2-0, and you’ve got to stay with it,” Tocchet said. “We didn’t, and it cost us.”

Now facing a well-rested Vegas squad, the Canucks know they must elevate their game to avoid another disappointing result.

“We’ve got to come out ready from the puck drop,” Joshua said. “Vegas is sitting there waiting for us, so we’ve got to match their energy.”

Key Matchup

This game marks the first of four meetings between the Canucks and Golden Knights this season. The two teams split their series last year, with each team earning a road victory.

For Vegas, maintaining their dominant home form will be crucial. The Golden Knights excel in high-tempo games and capitalize on mistakes, something Vancouver must guard against.

Conversely, the Canucks will need to rebound quickly after their grueling loss. Strong goaltending from Thatcher Demko and disciplined defense will be essential if they hope to steal a win in Las Vegas.

As the Golden Knights look to build on their division lead and the Canucks aim to bounce back, Thursday’s game promises to be an intriguing battle between two Pacific Division foes.

Vegas Golden Knights vs Vancouver-Canucks December 19th 2024

Betting on today’s Canucks and Golden Knights game? Catch the action at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, NV, as the Golden Knights hosts this showdown at 10:00 ET on ESPN+. The over/under for this game is set at 5.5 goals, and the Golden Knights are favored by -1.5 against the Canucks in a Pacific division matchup.

Vancouver vs. Vegas Key Information

• Teams: Canucks at Golden Knights
• Where: T-Mobile Arena Las Vegas
• Date: Thursday, December 19th
• Betting Odds VEG -166 | VAN +140 O/U 5.5

The Canucks Can Win If…

Vancouver improved to 16-9-6 with a 3-2 road win over the Sharks. The Canucks were favored on the puck line, but failed to cover. The total was set at 6.5 goals, and the combined 5 goals fell short of that mark.

The Sharks scored first, but Pius Suter tied it up for Vancouver in the second period. Jake DeBrusk gave the Canucks the lead in the third, and Suter scored again with just 26 seconds left to secure the win.

Pius Suter led the way for the Canucks with two goals, his third and fourth of the season. He scored at 14:41 in the second period and again with just 26 seconds left in the game. Jake DeBrusk added his first goal of the season, finding the net at 15:38 in the third period.

The Canucks took 27 shots on goal but were held scoreless in the first period. They managed 25 offensive giveaways and finished with 6 assists in their 3-2 win over the Sharks.

Defensively, the Canucks will look to improve after giving up the first goal 2:37 into the 2nd period and another late in the 3rd at 18:43. Kevin Lankinen made 21 saves with a 91.3% save percentage, while the defense recorded 5 takeaways and 24 hits.

• Over their last three regular season games, the Canucks have gone 1-2 straight up. This also includes going 2-1 ATS, and posting an over-under record of 1-2.
• The Canucks have gone 5-5 over their last ten regular season games. Their record vs the puck line sits at 5-5 in these matchups, while posting a 5-4-1 over-under mark.

The Golden Knights Can Win If…

With a 4-3 overtime win against Utah, the Golden Knights moved to 20-8-3 on the season. Vegas, favored by -1.5 goals, didn’t cover the puck line. The total for the game was set at 6.5 goals, and the combined 7 goals pushed it over.

Vegas fell behind 2-0 before rallying. Four different players scored for the Golden Knights, with Brett Howden netting the game-winner at 2:15 in overtime.

Vegas fired 35 shots on goal and scored four times in their 4-3 overtime win against Utah. Brett Howden netted his sixth goal of the season, while William Karlsson added his second. Pavel Dorofeyev opened the scoring for the Golden Knights with his seventh goal, and Noah Hanifin followed with his second.

Hanifin also contributed two assists, bringing his season total to five. Mark Stone picked up his 15th assist on Howden’s overtime winner. Vegas ended the game with 13 giveaways.

Defensively, the Golden Knights will look to improve after allowing the first three goals in their previous game. They gave up two in the first period and one more in the third, though they did hold Utah scoreless in overtime. Adin Hill made 16 saves with a save percentage of 84.2%.

• Vegas will look to keep things rolling as they have put together a mark of 2-1 over their past three games. This includes going 1-2 vs. the puck line and posting an over-under mark of 1-2.
• Vegas has put together a record of 7-3 in their last ten games (regular season). Against the spread, Vegas went 6-4 in these games and finished with an over-under mark of 3-7.

The Lean

For a moneyline pick, I’m taking the Canucks to pick up on a win over the Golden Knights and the road. With the moneyline sitting at +140, I’ll be locking in a bet on the Canucks straight-up.

If you’re looking to get a bet down on this matchup, we foresee the Canucks winning the underdog. However, if you’re not as confident in the Canucks straight-up, we’d still recommend placing a bet on them to cover the puck line.

With an over/under line sitting at 5.5 goals, we like this game to remain below that mark and recommend getting a bet down on the under.