Vancouver Canucks vs Nashville Predators, Game 3 Best Bets: Can Canucks Survive Without Demko?

We are back in Nashville for Game 3 between the Predators and the Vancouver Canucks. After winning Game 1, the Canucks lost their goalie, Thatcher Demko, to an undisclosed injury, and he will be out for the foreseeable future. The fate of Vancouver's playoff hopes rest on Casey DeSmith, who didn't do to well in Game 2.

DeSmith only saw 15 shots, but still allowed 3 goals, stopping just 80% of the shots on net. In the regular season, DeSmith ranked 42nd amongst qualifying keepers in SV%, posting a .896. There is tons of room for improvement, and you can't get mad at the defense for giving up just 22 total attempts, blocking 8 shots.

However, in Game 2, the Predators blocked a whopping 30 shots from the Canucks, who still managed to get 18 of them on goal. Juuse Saros stopped 17 of those shots, posting a .944 save percentage, leading the Predators to a victory that evened the series.

Back home, will the Predators take advantage of no Demko? Or can the Canucks rally and find a way to win?

Here are our FREE Expert Picks for the Oilers/Kings Game 3!

With an Even Series, It's Anyone's Game

Matchup Information – Predators vs Canucks

• Venue & Location: Bridgestone Arena (Nashville, TN)
• Date: Friday, April 26th, 2024
• Puck Drop: 7:30pm Eastern
• Where to Watch: TBS

Betting Odds, courtesy of BetOnline

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Puck Line

• Canucks +1.5 (-260)
• Predators -1.5 (+220)

Money Line

• Canucks -106
• Predators -106

Total

• Over 5.5 (-125)
• Under 5.5 (+109)

Can Predators Hold Off Canucks Offense?

I heavily leaned with the Canucks in this series, but the loss of Demko changes things tremendously. He ranked Top 3 in Save Percentage in the NHL, and Vancouver clearly missed him in Game 2.

The Predators absolutely dominated after crumbling in Game 1. They scored less than 90 seconds into the game, and never looked back. Midway through the second period, they had a 3-0 lead, eventually winning the game 4-1 with an empty netter at the end. Now the Predators are back on their home ice, and they play very conservative defense.

Nashville ranks 23rd in SOGs allowed but just 11th in total attempts. They blocked 30 shots the other night, and they are really helping out their goalkeeper. I think that continues tonight. Vancouver's defense is just as solid. They rank 6th in SOGs allowed and 4th in total attempts. We saw just 33 total shots on goal in Game 2, and I think Game 3 will be very similar.

Vancouver Canucks vs Nashville Predators Best Bets Today

VAN/NSH Under 5.5 (+109) BetOnline

The rest of the market has this at +105 at best, so I'll take my 4 extra cents from BetOnline, say thank you, and root for some boring hockey. We saw 44 total shots on goal in Game 1, and just 33 in Game 2, while also seeing blocked shots increase from 25 to 38 combined between the squads. Defense wins Championships, and even with DeSmith now in net for the Canucks, I trust the defensemen to help him out, and he certainly can't get any worse, right?

Saros has been locked in, and overall, power play opportunities have been very minimal this series. We saw 6 in Game 1, with only 1 being successful, and 8 total in Game 2, with both teams going 0/4 on their opportunities.

Ultimately, I think we see a slow, conservative hockey game tonight. Shots have been declining, and with DeSmith between the posts, I expect Vancouver to focus on defense, trying to win a low scoring contest. Give me the under 5.5 for plus money.

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