The top-seeded Vancouver Canucks will try to grab a 3-1 lead in the Western Conference semifinals tonight, Thursday May 5th, when they visit the Nashville Predators for Game 4 at Bridgestone Arena. The Canucks have won six of their last ten meetings against the Predators. NHL oddsmakers have the Canucks as -125 moneyline road favorites over the Predators (+110) with the over/under listed at 5 goals. Be sure to check the Canucks vs Predators NHL Point Spreads and get your predictions in early.
V
ancouver (6-4, 2-2 V) took Game 3 in Nashville with an overtime victory Tuesday evening. Ryan Kesler drew a penalty in OT, then scored his second power play goal of the game to lift Vancouver to the 3-2 win in the Music City. All three of the games in this set have been decided by just one goal and the last two encounters have gone past regulation. Goalie Roberto Luongo made four of his 28 saves in overtime, stopping a couple of slap shots in the opening minute. When the Canucks’ offence goes missing for any length of time, the search is immediately focused on the play of Henrik and Daniel, and Kesler, because of the gaudy regular-season numbers they put up. The Canucks, who are 2-2 on the road in this postseason, can set up a potential series-clinching Game 5 on home ice with a victory tonight. Vancouver will host the next meeting between these clubs on Saturday. Nashville is 2-2 at Bridgestone Arena in this year's playoffs and was 24-9-8 as the home club this season. Vancouver had a stellar 27-10-4 record as the road team in the regular season.
Nashville (5-4, 2-2 H) kept the Canucks on their toes and the result could’ve gone either way. Goalie Pekka Rinne, peppered with 47 shots in the game, couldn't do much on the last one he saw. With Kesler standing at the top of the crease, he let the deflection go through his legs. "He's a good goaltender over there," said Kesler. "We gotta do all the dirty things to get goals." David Legwand scored a shorthanded goal in the first period to give Nashville a 1-0 lead, and his teammate Joel Ward tallied with 6:42 left in regulation to tie the game at 2-2 and eventually send it to overtime. The Fisher-Hornqvist-Kostitsyn line, said the coach, “are a little disjointed right now, they’re not supporting the puck as a group. And I always say that one end of the ice is connected to the other end. They haven’t been really solid in their neutral zone decisions, and they’re spread out too far.” The Predators are in the second round of the playoffs for the first time in franchise history after defeating Anaheim in the conference quarterfinals. Nashville will not have Steve Sullivan on the ice tonight after the veteran forward suffered an upper-body injury in Game 3. Sullivan, who has two goals and one assist in this postseason, has been ruled out for tonight by head coach Barry Trotz.
Recent Trends to Consider:
Under is 6-0-1 in the last 7 meetings.
Canucks are 7-2 in the last 9 meetings in Nashville.
Under is 5-2-1 in the last 8 meetings in Nashville.
Road team is 4-1 in the last 5 meetings.
Canucks are 6-1 in their last 7 games as a road favorite of -110 to -150.
Canucks are 6-1 in their last 7 games as a favorite of -110 to -150.
Canucks are 4-1 in their last 5 Thursday games.
Predators are 5-1 in their last 6 after scoring 2 goals or less in their previous game.
Canucks vs Predators
When: Thursday, May-05-11, 8:30 PM ET
Pick: Canucks -125
Point-Spreads.com recommends you check out NHL Point Spreads Canucks vs Predators game.
The Bottom Line: The Canucks should get the win, but be wary of another overtime nail bitter. Be sure to check Canucks vs Predators Hockey Point Spreads and get your predictions in early.
