The Vegas Golden Knights are on a five-game winning streak and they'll need every point they can get to keep up with the Dallas Stars for the Western Conference's final wildcard spot.
The Golden Knights fell behind Dallas by a point after the Stars won on Tuesday. Vegas hopes to reclaim that spot win a win against the Vancouver Canucks at home Wednesday night.
Can the Golden Knights make it six consecutive victories and retake the final wild card spot or will the Canucks play spoiler on the road? Find out in our free NHL betting picks and predictions for Canucks vs. Golden Knights on Sunday, April 3.
Editor's note: Ontario! Welcome to the world of regulated sports betting. Visit our Ontario sports betting page for the best legal betting sites available to you and all the information you need about this emerging industry.
Canucks vs Golden Knights odds
This odds widget represents the best odds available for each betting market from regulated sportsbooks.
The Golden Knights opened at -139, but that didn’t last long, as the line jumped to as high as -164 at DraftKings and FanDuel. The Canucks opened at +115, but it too rose quickly, getting to +140 at Caesars and PointsBet. The total of 5.5 stayed there except for FanDuel, where it went to six. The over is -120, while the under is +100.
Use the live odds widget above to track any future line movements right until puck drop and be sure to check out the full NHL odds before betting to ensure you get the best number.
Canucks vs Golden Knights predictions
- Prediction: Golden Knights -1.5 (+160)
- Prediction: Over 5.5 (-120)
- Best bet: Golden Knights 1P -0.5 (+155)
Predictions made on 4/6/2022 at 1:00 p.m. ET.
Click on each prediction to jump to the full analysis.
If you're signing up for a new sportsbook for the 2021-22 NHL season, here are two of the best bonuses* available:
A) New user big boost: Bet $1 on any NHL moneyline at DraftKings and get $150 in free bets if your team wins! Sign Up Now
B) New users can get two risk-free bets up to $2,000 at PointsBet! Claim Now
*Eligible USA locations only
Canucks vs Golden Knights game info
• Location: T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas, NV
• Date: Wednesday, April 6, 2022
• Puck drop: 10:00 p.m. ET
• TV: Sportsnet, ATTSN-RM
Canucks vs Golden Knights betting preview
Key injuries
Canucks: Brock Boeser F (Out), Quinn Hughes D (Questionable), Tucker Poolman D (Questionable), Kyle Burroughs D (Out), Nils Hoglander F (out), Matthew Highmore C (Out).
Golden Knights: Laurent Brossoit G (Out), Nolan Patrick C (Questionable), Reilly Smith F (Out), Mark Stone F (Out), Max Pacioretty F (Out), Will Carrier F (Questionable), Brett Howden C (Out), Nicolas Hague D (Out). .
Find our latest NHL injury reports.
Canucks vs Golden Knights head-to-head record
Canucks: 4-6 SU, 25 goals for.
Golden Knights: 6-4 SU, 33 goals for.
Betting trend to know
The Golden Knights have won the first period in 20 of their last 22 home games. Find more NHL betting trends for Canucks vs. Golden Knights.
Canucks vs Golden Knights picks and predictions
Our side and total predictions are based upon our analysis of the line and total in this game. Our best bet is our favorite pick across all markets.
Puck line analysis
The Golden Knights are running hot right now and they'll need to keep it going should they reclaim the last wildcard playoff spot out West. They have won five in a row, but four of those were to teams that probably aren’t making the playoffs.
The Canucks were one of those teams Vegas took down during that stretch, meeting Vancouver last Sunday. Vegas jumped out to a 2-0 lead but allowed the Canucks to tie the game in the third frame. Fortunately, defenseman Shea Theodore scored the game-winner in overtime and the Golden Knights escaped with two points.
Those types of gaffes have been all too common for Vegas this year, and they simply can’t happen if the team has any chance of making the playoffs. The good news is they not only play the Canucks Wednesday but next Tuesday as well, with the lowly Arizona Coyotes sandwiched in between those two games.
Vegas has been banged up most of the year, but they got some key defensive players back recently, including starting goalie Robin Lehner, who had been out since March 10 with a lower body injury.
Defenseman Alec Martinez returned on March 26 after being out since November with a facial laceration after taking a skate to the face. Brandon McNabb also returns to bolster the blue line.
While the defense is slowly coming back, the offense is still without starting players. Forwards and first-line mates, Mark Stone and Max Pacioretty, are still out, and Reilly Smith won’t be available anytime soon.
Still, without those players, the offense has managed to outscore opponents 22-9 in their last five contests. The first line of Chandler Stephenson, Jack Eichel, and Evgenii Dadonov has scored eight goals in the last five games.
Vancouver was fortunate to equal the Golden Knights in regulation on Sunday, but won’t be as lucky on Wednesday, especially with the loss of right winger Brock Boeser.
Boeser was injured in the loss to Vegas. He is out, and Quinn Hughes might miss Wednesday’s game with an illness. He didn’t travel with the team, though he might rejoin them in time for the game.
The Golden Knights should take advantage and cruise to a comfortable win.
Prediction: Golden Knights -1.5 (+160 at PointsBet)
Over/Under analysis
Sunday’s contest between Vancouver and Vegas went Under, but Wednesday’s rematch should see more scoring. Vegas has gone 4-0 on the Over in their last four games and the Over is also 5-2 when they are a home favorite.
The Golden Knights seem to thrive in their building. Feeding off of one of the most exuberant fan bases in hockey, goals just seem to pour in the opponent’s net when Vegas is at home.
In their last five home games, the Golden Knights have scored five or more goals four times. Three of those contests were against teams that will be in the playoffs.
With Vancouver’s playoff hopes all but crushed with Sunday’s loss, it is hard to gauge how the Canucks will play on Wednesday.
It could go one of two ways. The first would be a deflated team that takes the ice and lays down as the Golden Knights skate circles around them. Secondly, they could see this game as a chance to play for pride and throw a wrench in the playoff plans of the Golden Knights.
The trends favor the Over. Vegas has hit the Over in 21 of its 36 games at home with 58% of those home contests reaching the six-goal mark.
The Golden Knights are going to get their goals. Vancouver will chip in and ultimately send this game Over the 5.5-goal total.
Prediction: Over 5.5 (-120 at BetMGM)
Best bet
The Golden Knights are a team that likes to jump out to a lead. In 20 of 22 home games, Vegas has won the first period. Despite missing some key offensive players, the depth of the offense has allowed the Golden Knights to continue to score.
Getting Lehner back between the pipes for Vegas should make scoring a little more difficult for the Canucks, as he pitched a shutout until the third period in their matchup Sunday.
Keeping the Canucks off the scoreboard in the first period shouldn’t be an issue. The defense is healthy again, and the offense has been red hot.
Pick: Golden Knights first-period -0.5 (+155 at PointsBet)
