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Rogers' MONEY LINE Underdog SPECIAL ($25) >> 6-3 L9 NHL!
(NHL) Vancouver vs. Los Angeles,
Money Line: 156.00 Vancouver (Away)
Result: Loss
Money Line: 156.00 Vancouver (Away)
Result: Loss
The set-up: Only Edmonton (70 points) accumulated fewer points last season than the Vancouver Canucks (75), who finished 31-38-13. The Canucks went just 15-21-5 at home last year and with a four-game homestand to open the 2016-17 season, almost had to begin well, or face the early possibility of another downward spiral to their season. Mission Accomplished! A club that many hockey experts picked to be at the bottom of the barrel in the NHL by the end of this season, is now the only unbeaten team in the NHL, after a 4-0 start! The LA Kings were second in the Pacific Division last year at 48-28-6, earning 27 more points than Vancouver with 102. However, the 1-3-0 Kings get set to host the Canucks tonight residing in last-place in the Pacific Division.
Vancouver: The Canucks venture away from home for the first time this season tonight but do so with the confidence of being able to win the "close ones," something last year's team was never able to do. Vancouver's opening-season win came in a shoot-out, its next two in OT and the team's fourth straight win was a 2-1 victory. Goalie Jacob Markstrom, following up his strong showing in the World Cup of Hockey for Team Sweden, is 3-0-0 with a 1.65 goals-against average and .932 save percentage for Vancouver.
Los Angeles: The Kings dropped their opening three games before posting a 4-3 overtime victory on Thursday at Dallas. LW Tanner Pearson has returned from his two-game suspension to start the year, by scoring three goals and adding an assist to go along with a plus-4 rating in his two games back. "I think Tanner, as I said when he came back, hey, you want him to score any game, but he's going to get opportunities and he can play in your top two lines, and that's, quite honest, what we need," head coach Darryl Sutter said.
The pick: Yes, the Canucks have to play away from home for the first time this year but unlike last year, when they went 9-13 in games venturing past regulation, they are a perfect 3-0 in that situation to open this season. Vancouver loves the stat which shows that seven different players have accounted for its nine goals scored this season. Markstrom is a ‘hot' goalie and goes up against Peter Budaj, who has appeared in two games, going 1-0-0 with a 2.22 GAA but a poor .897 save percentage. The surprising Canucks surprise again. Vancouver is a 7* play.
Vancouver: The Canucks venture away from home for the first time this season tonight but do so with the confidence of being able to win the "close ones," something last year's team was never able to do. Vancouver's opening-season win came in a shoot-out, its next two in OT and the team's fourth straight win was a 2-1 victory. Goalie Jacob Markstrom, following up his strong showing in the World Cup of Hockey for Team Sweden, is 3-0-0 with a 1.65 goals-against average and .932 save percentage for Vancouver.
Los Angeles: The Kings dropped their opening three games before posting a 4-3 overtime victory on Thursday at Dallas. LW Tanner Pearson has returned from his two-game suspension to start the year, by scoring three goals and adding an assist to go along with a plus-4 rating in his two games back. "I think Tanner, as I said when he came back, hey, you want him to score any game, but he's going to get opportunities and he can play in your top two lines, and that's, quite honest, what we need," head coach Darryl Sutter said.
The pick: Yes, the Canucks have to play away from home for the first time this year but unlike last year, when they went 9-13 in games venturing past regulation, they are a perfect 3-0 in that situation to open this season. Vancouver loves the stat which shows that seven different players have accounted for its nine goals scored this season. Markstrom is a ‘hot' goalie and goes up against Peter Budaj, who has appeared in two games, going 1-0-0 with a 2.22 GAA but a poor .897 save percentage. The surprising Canucks surprise again. Vancouver is a 7* play.
