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Weekly NHL Betting action sees the Vancouver Canucks taking on the Pittsburgh Penguins December 4 at Consol Energy Center. Cappers Picks provides free NHL handicapping tips all season long.
Two of the top teams in the NHL battle Wednesday night when the Vancouver Canucks pay visit to the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Daily NHL Hockey Odds
Vancouver (17-7-0-1) at Pittsburgh (17-5-1-1)
When: 7:00 PM ET, Thursday, December 4, 2014
Where: Consol Energy Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Broadcast: SN360, ROOT
Vancouver Canucks +1½ -195 +152 Ov 5½ +105
Pittsburgh Penguins -1½ +170 -167 Un 5½ -116
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The Canucks won Tuesday night in Washington and continue to be one of the best road teams in the game – they will have their hands full Thursday however against one of the top offenses in the game.
The Canucks have been terrific in every aspect of the game this season – on Tuesday it was the offense and the power play in particular that thrust Vancouver to the win. They scored three times with the man advantage – Daniel Sedin scored two and Radim Vrbata scored the other.
All together Vancouver is averaging 3.08 goals per game. Daniel has three points in his last two games, Shawn Matthias has four points in four games, Radim Vrbata has seven points in seven games and Yannik Weber has two points in his last three games. Vancouver is as balanced offensively as they have been in years – three lines can and will score for this team.
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Defensively the Canucks have been just OK allowing 2.72 goals per game. Ryan Miller is among the league leaders in wins but he has a 2.45 GAA this year – not terrific. Miller has had his issues with Pittsburgh – he has given up seven total goals in his last two starts against the Pens and owns an unflattering 3.28 GAA in his career versus Pittsburgh.
The Penguins are among the best scoring teams in the NHL – ho hum! But injuries are starting to affect this team. Chris Kunitz will miss at least two weeks with a fractured foot – he joins Pascal Dupuis (blood clot), Beau Bennett (lower body) and Kris Letang on the sidelines.
It’s a good thing for Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin – Crosby has 33 points in 24 games but has been held off the score sheet in his last two games and Malkin has 30 points and is enjoying a streak of at least one point in eight of his last nine games. Blake Comeau has also picked up his game and has five points in his last four games with a hat trick during that span.
As good as the Penguins offense has been lately, this team would be nowhere without goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury. He has been terrific for this team – he has five shutouts already and has a 2.08 GAA this year. In his last four wins Fleury has posted an incredible 1.23 GAA. He has won his last four matchups against the Canucks, with the last three coming in shootouts.
NHL Gambling Trends
• VAN are 7-1 in their last 8 vs. Eastern Conference.
• VAN are 3-8 in their last 11 Thu. games.
• Over is 13-6-1 in VAN last 20 road games.
• Over is 10-2-2 in PIT last 14 Thu. games.
• Under is 8-3 in PIT last 11 overall.
• PIT are 13-5 in their last 18 vs. Pacific.
The Penguins have won the last two meetings between the teams – both in shootouts. One thing has been constant in all of the recent contests – goals have been scored. I like that trend to continue Thursday.
NHL Betting 4* Free Play
The Over – 5 1/2 goals is the play here.
The Over – 5 1/2 goals
The Canucks will be a tired bunch and there is no value in taking the Pens.
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