Welcome back to NHL Predictions. Each day, Last Word on Hockey takes a look at the games that are scheduled then offers insight and analysis to help predict who will be victorious in head-to-head matchups. Today we are looking at the game between the Florida Panthers vs. Vancouver Canucks. Be sure to check out more NHL Predictions as the 2024-25 season continues.
NHL Predictions
Florida Panthers vs. Vancouver Canucks
Head-to-Head: Panthers 0-1 Canucks
Time: 10:00 p.m Eastern Standard Time (EST)
TV: SNP, TVAS, Scripps Florida; ESPN+
Tonight the Florida Panthers (18-9–2) continue their Western road trip as they face the Vancouver Canucks (14-8-5) for the final time this season. Vancouver beat the Panthers in Florida 3-2 in overtime on October.17. Can Florida return the favour tonight or will the Canucks conquer the champs once again?
Panthers Pushing For Four Straight Wins
Florida enters tonight’s game playing the second game of a five game road trip. They won the first game of the trip 2-1 in a shootout over the Seattle Kraken, and have one three in a row overall. One of the key players during this last stretch for the Panthers has been Matthew Tkachuk. Before being held off the scoreboard against Seattle he was riding a six game point streak where he recorded 15 points. He will likely see a lot of Four Nations teammate Quinn Hughes in this game. Whoever gets the better of that matchup will go a long way in determining a winner.
The Panthers also enter tonight game with a major advantage in the special teams battle. Both their power play and penalty kill units rank inside the top-10. Meanwhile the Canucks rank tenth or lower in both categories. Look for Florida to exploit this advantage.
Canucks Stars Starting to Return
Vancouver has been staying in the middle of the Western Conference playoff race despite extended absences for goalie Thatcher Demko and forward J.T. Miller. Thankfully for the Canucks Demko returned on Tuesday against the St. Louis Blues in an overtime loss. He was honest about his first game of the season saying he “felt rusty for sure”.
With more game action he will likely return to his former self, a bonafide number one, who the Canucks can rely on. As for Miller, he has begun skating with the team again after taking a leave of absence for personal reasons in the middle of November. It has yet to be determined when he will return to game action but, when he does Vancouver will return to contender status in the West.
Something that sticks out with the Canucks is their porous home record. They have one of the worst home records of any team currently in a playoff spot going only 4-6-4 when playing on home ice. This is surprising after Vancouver was so dominant at home during the 2023-24 NHL season going 27-9-5. They will look to improve that record tonight.
Prediction
This is a matchup of two teams with fanbases expecting long playoff runs. In this game tonight expect the Panthers to remind the Canucks while they are defending champions. They are deeper and much better on special teams. Without J.T. Miller and Filip Hronek it will make it tough on the Canucks to matchup. Who starts for Vancouver will be interesting to monitor. Will they let Demko start two in a row or will they go back to Kevin Lankinen? The Finn did beat the Panthers in the first matchup. Whatever goalie starts will have to deal with a red-hot Tkachuk.
Prediction: Panthers win 4-2
Prop Bets of The Night
After Matthew Tkachuk’s scoring streak ended he seems like a good bet to get on the scoreboard tonight. On FanDuel Sportsbook he is +210 as an anytime goal scorer. For Vancouver, Jake Debrusk has had a great start to December. He gas six goals in five games. He is +240 as an anytime goal scorer. The spread is set at 1.5. Florida at -1.5 has odds of +176.
Main photo by: Bob Frid-Imagn Images
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