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Canucks and Utah Set for Intense ‘Do or Die’ Battle
The playoff chase is heating up in the NHL Pacific Division, and Sunday’s showdown between the Vancouver Canucks and Utah Hockey Club feels like a playoff game. With every point crucial in the tight race for a Western Conference wild-card spot, both teams know it’s do or die.
Canucks Strengthen Position With Dominant Win
Vancouver widened the gap in the standings on Saturday night with an impressive 6-2 home victory over the Chicago Blackhawks. That win pushed the Canucks to 73 points, maintaining their hold on the conference’s second and final wild-card slot. On the other hand, Utah (69 points) suffered a tough 4-2 defeat to the Seattle Kraken, making their playoff path even steeper. They’ll now need to leapfrog not just the Canucks but also the Calgary Flames and St. Louis Blues, who each hold 71 points.
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Key Players Shine for Vancouver
Vancouver is feeling confident, coming into Sunday’s crucial game with two straight wins. Elias Pettersson continues to impress, netting his fourth goal in five games on Saturday. Conor Garland, Pius Suter, Quinn Hughes, Tyler Myers, and Nils Aman also found the back of the net. Remarkably, Aman and Suter’s goals came just eight seconds apart, tying for the second-fastest two-goal burst in Canucks history.
Captain Quinn Hughes praised the depth players, noting the key contributions from the third and fourth lines: “Those guys really have done a great job all year. We’re glad they’re getting rewarded. With 16 games left, we’ll need everyone pulling their weight.”
Injury Concerns for Vancouver
Vancouver’s victory wasn’t without setbacks—Filip Chytil left the game late due to a hard hit by Chicago’s Jason Dickinson, and coach Rick Tocchet is awaiting updates on his condition.
Utah Faces Pressure to Bounce Back
Utah is feeling the pressure, dropping four of their last six games (2-2-2). Despite goals from Kevin Stenlund and Nick Schmaltz against Seattle, coach Andre Tourigny wasn’t happy with the team’s execution. “Our usual offense and transition just weren’t there. It’s an off night, and we’re already focused on bouncing back.”
Ice-Cold Profits Await
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Injuries Impact Utah’s Lineup
Forward Liam O’Brien also left Friday’s game with an undisclosed injury, adding to Utah’s concerns.
Head-to-Head Matchups Favor Utah
Utah has had recent success against Vancouver, winning both matchups this season in Salt Lake City. But Sunday’s game in Vancouver comes with different stakes—it’s practically a playoff battle.
Betting Insights and Predictions
Stay ahead of the action with our expert betting guide, check our latest Stanley Cup Odds, and explore the NHL Conference Winner Odds as teams battle fiercely down the stretch.
