The Vancouver Canucks (0-2-0) and Washington Capitals (1-2-0) meet Monday at Capital One Arena. Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET. (ESPN+). Below, we analyze Tipico Sportsbook’s lines around the Canucks vs. Capitals odds, and make our expert NHL picks and predictions.
After a 3-2 loss at the Philadelphia Flyers Saturday, Vancouver has blown multi-goal leads in back-to-back games to open the season for the first time in franchise history (according to Sportsnet Stats). D Kyle Burroughs and RW Conor Garland both scored for the Canucks, who lost as -168 moneyline (ML) favorites.
Vancouver coach Bruce Boudreau is looking to get his 600th win Monday in Washington where his NHL coaching career started.
Capitals RW T.J. Oshie finished with a goal and an assist in a 3-1 home win vs. the Montreal Canadiens Saturday. Washington closed as a -300 ML favorite in picking up its 1st win of the season.
Capitals C Evgeny Kuznetsov is a game-time decision and did not skate Monday morning.
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Canucks at Capitals odds
Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 4:28 p.m. ET.
- Moneyline: Canucks +110 (bet $100 to win $110) | Capitals -135 (bet $135 to win $100)
- Puck line (PL)/Against the spread (ATS): Canucks +1.5 (-220) | Capitals -1.5 (+175)
- Over/Under (O/U): 6.5 (O: +105 | U: -130)
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Canucks at Capitals projected goalies
Thatcher Demko (0-2-0, 3.64 GAA, .873 SV%) vs. Darcy Kuemper (1-1-0, 2.55 GAA, .902 SV%)
Demko faced the Capitals twice last season, going 1-0-1, while allowing 6 goals on 67 shots, good for a 2.98 GAA and .910 SV%. Demko had a .957 SV% in 5 Monday games last season, higher than any other day of the week.
Kuemper faced the Canucks 3 times last season, going 2-1-0 while allowing 5 goals on 82 shots, good for a 1.68 GAA and .939 SV%. Kuemper had a .877 SV% in 5 Monday games last season, lower than any other day of the week.
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Canucks at Capitals picks and predictions
Prediction
Canucks 3, Capitals 2
Moneyline
BET CANUCKS (+110).
The Canucks are undervalued in this spot after 2 embarrassing losses. It’s time to buy low on Vancouver as Boudreau gets his 600th career win in the city where his NHL coaching career started.
Puck line/Against the spread
PASS.
Canucks +1.5 (-220) should hit, but it’s too expensive. Take the ML at plus-money or consider the total if you’re not sold on Vancouver in a bounce-back spot.
Over/Under
BET UNDER 6.5 (-130).
The Under is 4-1-1 in the last 6 head-to-head meetings in Washington. Demko is a better goalie than he has appeared this season and should prove that as he helps the Under hit Monday.
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