Vancouver Canucks vs Utah Hockey Club Prediction, 12/18/2024 NHL Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Vancouver Canucks vs Utah Hockey Club

Date: Wednesday, December 18, 2024

Location: Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah

TV: Utah 16

Odds/Point Spread: Canucks (-128) Hockey Club (+106)

The Utah Hockey Club (14-11-5) will play the Vancouver Canucks (16-9-5) at Delta Center on Wednesday. The moneyline on this contest has Vancouver at -128 while Utah is sitting at +106. The total comes in at 6.5.

The Vancouver Canucks were on the wrong end of the scoreboard with a 5-1 loss against the Bruins in their previous contest . The Canucks didn't have their best offensive outing in this loss. For the outing, they scored on 1 of the 20 shots they looked to score on. Moreover, they had 2 opportunities with more players on the ice but weren't able to convert one of them into a goal. Vancouver amassed 10 penalty minutes in this matchup.

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Vancouver Canucks opponents have recorded 92 power play opportunities (16th in professional hockey) and have a total of 18 goals in those attempts. The Canucks so far have had 854 shots taken against them and are the owners of a save percentage of .892. Vancouver has attempted 785 shots and is the owner of a shooting percentage of 12.2%. When at even strength, the Canucks have surrendered 74 goals while earning 76 on the offensive side of the ice. Vancouver has 86 power play opportunities and they have scored 20 goals out of those tries, garnering them a rate of 23.26%. For the season, they have racked up 37 points and their points percentage sits at .617. With regard to their scoring capabilities, the Vancouver Canucks have accumulated 96 goals (13th in the National Hockey League) this season and have given up 92.

The man in goal for this game is Thatcher Demko. Demko has participated in 222 games throughout his hockey career. He has accumulated an overall record of 117-82-18 and was named the starter in 216 games. Opponents have scored 606 goals against Demko in his career and his goals against average per contest is 2.84. Demko has seen 6,852 shots taken against him and has accrued 6,246 saves. His save percentage is .912 for his 12,814 minutes played. Over the course of his career, Demko has recorded 123 quality starts and his quality starts percentage is at .569.

When they took the ice last, Utah squared up with the Sharks in a matchup where the Hockey Club notched a victory by a tally of 4-3. They had 6 power play attempts in this game and scored 2 out of those tries. The Hockey Club recorded 4 goals out of the 40 shots on goal they pursued.

So far this year, the Utah Hockey Club have notched a total of 91 goals, 33 points, and a points percentage of .550. They have granted a total of 87 goals to be scored by way of 64 goals at even strength and 23 goals while they were shorthanded. The Hockey Club are sitting with 73 goals at even strength and 18 goals (19th in the league) while having more men on the ice. They have a tally of 85 opportunities on the power play and they have earned a power play rate of 21.18%. Utah has attempted 816 shots (26th in the NHL) and has a shot percentage of 11.15%, while allowing their opponents 847 shots. They have a penalty kill percentage of 78.50% on their opponents 107 power play chances, and their save percentage sits at 89.7%.

Across the rink you are going to see Karel Vejmelka protecting the goal. Opponents are averaging 3.78 goals per contest and he has relinquished 491 goals in total. Vejmelka's quality start rate sits at 45.9% and he has earned 67 quality starting assignments in his pro hockey career. He got the starting nod in 146 games and has been on the ice for 7,795 mins. Vejmelka is the owner of a career mark of 50-82-13 and has participated in 157 contests. He has compiled 4,394 stops out of the 4,885 shots taken against him, giving him a percentage of .899.

Who will win tonight's NHL game against the spread or moneyline?

Guy's Pick: Take Vancouver (-128)

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