Arizona Coyotes vs Vancouver-canucks Picks and Predictions December 18th 2024

Utah Hockey Club itching to stay hot vs. Canucks

The Utah Hockey Club is ready to defend its season-best five-game point streak as it hosts the Vancouver Canucks on Wednesday night in Salt Lake City. With playoff aspirations heating up, both teams are primed for a high-stakes showdown.

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Utah’s Momentum Drives Playoff Push

Utah enters the game with a 4-0-1 record in its last five contests, a streak that has energized their season and brought them within three points of Colorado for the final wild-card spot in the Western Conference. This surge has helped erase memories of a rocky 7-9-3 start and highlighted their resilience.

The streak features an impressive road run with wins over Buffalo (5-2), Philadelphia (4-2), Colorado (4-1), and San Jose (4-3). Utah’s only loss during this span was a narrow 5-4 shootout defeat to Minnesota on Dec. 10. The team’s ability to bounce back from adversity has been a key factor, as demonstrated in their comeback against San Jose, where Michael Carcone tied the game in the third period and Clayton Keller sealed the win with a power-play goal in the final minute.

“Confidence is high,” said Utah coach Andre Tourigny. “Not every night will be your best, but finding ways to win games like we did in San Jose shows growth.”

Balanced Leadership and Team Mentality

Clayton Keller, Utah’s offensive powerhouse with 10 goals and 28 points, emphasized the importance of staying level-headed during their recent success.

“You’re never as bad as you think you are, and you’re never as good as you think you are,” Keller remarked. “We’re playing the right way now, and we’ve got to keep building without getting too high or too low.”

Coach Tourigny echoed these sentiments, praising the team’s ability to rally under pressure. “The way we responded to adversity in San Jose was outstanding. I’m proud of how the boys fought back.”

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Canucks Pose a Tough Challenge

The Vancouver Canucks bring an imposing 10-2-1 road record to Salt Lake City, the best in the Pacific Division. They’re coming off a commanding 3-1 win over the Colorado Avalanche on Monday, powered by Kiefer Sherwood’s first career hat trick and Thatcher Demko’s stellar performance in net.

Demko, a 2023-24 Vezina finalist, stopped 30 shots to earn his first win of the season after returning from a knee injury. Vancouver coach Rick Tocchet was quick to reaffirm confidence in his goaltender. “Demmer is a good goaltender, just to remind everybody,” Tocchet quipped.

The Canucks are six points behind the first-place Vegas Golden Knights in the Pacific Division and are looking to maintain momentum before heading to Las Vegas for a back-to-back game on Thursday.

A Clash of Styles

This matchup promises to test both teams’ strengths:

• Utah: Riding a wave of momentum, the Hockey Club will aim to exploit home-ice advantage and their newfound offensive rhythm.
• Vancouver: With a strong road presence and Demko regaining form, the Canucks will rely on disciplined defense and opportunistic scoring.

What’s at Stake

For Utah, a victory would not only extend their hot streak but also bring them closer to a playoff spot, solidifying their position as a rising threat in the Western Conference. For Vancouver, the game represents an opportunity to assert their dominance on the road and narrow the gap in the Pacific Division standings.

Conclusion

As Utah’s resilient squad faces off against Vancouver’s road warriors, fans can expect a thrilling, hard-fought game. With playoff implications on the line, this matchup is a must-watch for hockey enthusiasts.