Vancouver-canucks vs Vegas Golden Knights Picks and Predictions April 16th 2025

Vancouver-Canucks vs Vegas Golden Knights April 16th 2025

The Golden Knights and Canucks are set to face off at 10:00 ET on TNT. The Canucks will host the game at Rogers Arena in Vancouver, BC. The over/under for this game is set at 5.5 goals, and the Canucks are favored by -1.5 against the Golden Knights in a Pacific division matchup.

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Vegas vs. Vancouver Key Information

• Teams: Golden Knights at Canucks
• Where: Rogers Arena Vancouver
• Date: Wednesday, April 16th
• Betting Odds VAN -112 | VEG -109 O/U 5.5

The Golden Knights Can Win If…

With a 4-3 overtime win against Utah Hockey Club, the Golden Knights improved to 49-22-10. Vegas, favored by -1.5 goals, failed to cover the puck line. The total for the game was set at 6.5 goals, and the combined 7 goals surpassed that mark.

Utah took a 2-0 lead before the Golden Knights responded with four different players scoring. Brett Howden netted the game-winner at 2:15 into overtime.

Vegas fired 35 shots on goal and scored four times in their 4-3 overtime win against the Utah Hockey Club. Brett Howden netted his 6th goal of the season, while William Karlsson added his 2nd. Pavel Dorofeyev opened the scoring for the Golden Knights, now with 7 goals this season, and Noah Hanifin found the net for the 2nd time this year.

Hanifin also contributed with two assists, bringing his total to 5 for the season. The Golden Knights had 13 giveaways in the game.

On the defensive side, the Golden Knights will look to improve after allowing the first two goals in their previous game, one at 8:08 in the 1st period and another at 8:00 in the 2nd. They also gave up the tying goal at 13:10 in the 3rd. Adin Hill made 16 saves but finished with an 84.2% save percentage. The defense recorded 10 takeaways and 22 hits.

• Over their last three games, the Golden Knights have gone 2-1 straight up. Against the spread, the team is 2-1 in these same games while going 2-1 on the over/under.
• Over their last ten regular season games, the Golden Knights have gone 6-4 straight up. The team’s record vs the puck line was just 5-5, in addition to an over-under mark of 3-7.

The Canucks Can Win If…

Vancouver improved to 38-29-14 with a 3-2 win over the Sharks. The Canucks were -1.5 goal favorites, but didn’t cover the puck line. The total was set at 6.5 goals, and the combined 5 goals fell short of that mark.

After falling behind 1-0 in the second period, Pius Suter tied it up at 5:19 in the second. Jake DeBrusk gave Vancouver the lead in the third, but the Sharks tied it again before Suter scored the game-winner with just 26 seconds left.

Pius Suter led the way for the Canucks with two goals, bringing his season total to four. He scored at 5:19 in the second period and again with just 26 seconds left in the game. Jake DeBrusk added his first goal of the season at 4:22 in the third period.

Vancouver fired 27 shots on goal but went scoreless in the first period. They netted one in the second and added two more in the final period. The Canucks recorded 25 giveaways in the game.

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

• Through their last three games, the Canucks have a record of 2-1. This also includes going 2-1 puck line and an over-under mark of 0-3.
• Vancouver has put together a record of 5-5 in their last ten games (regular season). The team’s record vs the puck line was just 7-3, in addition to an over-under mark of 4-6.

The Lean

If you’re looking for a moneyline pick, my choice is the Canucks to take down the Golden Knights at home. With the moneyline currently at -112, I’m placing my bet on the Canucks straight-up.

For a puck line prediction, our preference is the Canucks to secure a win and cover. Anticipate the Canucks to win this one by multiple goals over the Golden Knights.

For those looking at the over/under line set at 5.5 goals, our expectation is that this game will surpass that mark, and we suggest making a bet on the over.

Expert Hockey Handicappers

Final Showdown Holds No Playoff Stakes but Reveals Bigger Picture

As the NHL regular season concludes, the scheduled clash between the Vegas Golden Knights and the Vancouver Canucks on Wednesday night may look like a marquee matchup on paper. But in reality, it’s a game with minimal competitive consequence. Both teams are playing with different motivations, none of which impact the postseason bracket.

Vegas Golden Knights: Preparing for the Bigger Prize

Secured Second Seed in the West

The Golden Knights have already clinched the second seed in the Western Conference and will meet the Minnesota Wild in the opening round of the playoffs. This final game is more about maintaining rhythm and resting starters than battling for position.

Strategic Resting of Star Players

Vegas head coach Bruce Cassidy opted to rest five key players during their recent game against Calgary:

• Jack Eichel – 93 points this season (franchise record)
• Mark Stone
• Noah Hanifin
• Alex Pietrangelo
• Adin Hill (starting goaltender)

This rest is part of a calculated effort to keep key contributors fresh and injury-free heading into the postseason.

“You never want to take anything for granted,” Cassidy said. “Both teams probably want to look forward, get it over with, and stay healthy.”

Strong Showing Despite Absences

Despite sitting their top talent, the Golden Knights held their own in a 5-4 shootout loss to Calgary. They led early and showed resilience, tying the game in the third period.

“I thought we played really well, to be honest,” Cassidy added. “I can’t believe that we lost.”

Vancouver Canucks: Playing for Pride and Progress

No Playoff Hopes, but Momentum Matters

The Canucks (38-29-14, 90 points) have been mathematically eliminated from playoff contention and are locked into fifth place in the Pacific Division. Still, the team approaches this final game as a chance to evaluate talent and end on a high note.

Recent Win Highlights Team’s Potential

Vancouver pulled off a 2-1 overtime victory against the San Jose Sharks in their last outing. The game-winner came from Jake DeBrusk, who capitalized on a rebound off the glass.

“It’s been a weird year with that [overtime losses],” coach Rick Tocchet said. “We have to dive into why.”

The Canucks’ 7-12 overtime record is a critical stat that highlights their season-long struggle to close tight games — a major factor in missing the playoffs.

Record-Setting Moment

Team captain Quinn Hughes recorded an assist on the OT goal, tying Alexander Edler for the franchise record for most points by a defenseman (409 points) — a milestone worth celebrating.

Head-to-Head: Golden Knights Dominate Season Series

Wednesday’s contest will mark the fourth and final meeting between the teams this season. The Golden Knights have won all three previous encounters, including a 3-2 victory on April 6, thanks to a late goal by Victor Olofsson.

Key Takeaways from This Low-Stakes Matchup

What This Game Really Means

While this final regular season matchup may seem uneventful, it’s anything but meaningless. For Vegas, it’s about preserving playoff momentum, testing depth players, and staying injury-free. For Vancouver, it’s a platform to evaluate talent and reflect on what went wrong, especially in overtime.

Handicapper Leaderboard and Ranking 2025

Conclusion: More Than Meets the Eye

While Wednesday’s game won’t shift any standings or playoff brackets, it’s a valuable opportunity for both teams in very different ways. Vegas is poised and preparing for a deep playoff run, while Vancouver has lessons to take into the offseason.