Nashville Predators vs Vancouver Canucks

Two of the Western Conference's offensively challenged teams meet tonight in Nashville for this rematch from last year's playoffs. Vancouver's offense is 22nd in goals scored, while the defense is 13th in penalty killing. The Canucks are on an 8-6 run UNDER the total, as well as 7-5 UNDER on the road. Nashville's offense is 28th in goals scored and last in shooting percentage, while the defense is eighth in penalty killing. These teams played in Vancover earlier this month and Nashville took that game 3-0. In what shapes up as another defensive duel, I'm playing Vancouver/Nashville UNDER the total. 

Nashville won the first meeting this season 5-3 on Nov. 17, with Juuse Saros stopping 24 of 27 shots for the Predators. Saros is expected to start this game with a 2.82 goals-against average and a .903 save percentage. After losing the first three games, Nashville wants to salvage something from this road trip. Vancouver is playing on consecutive nights after going to a shootout to defeat Seattle 4-3 last night on the road. The Canucks still have lost six of nine, and they are 1-5 in their past five games as home underdogs of +110 to +150 and 2-9 overall as dogs of +110 to +150. Vancouver has lost four of five against Central Division opponents and has won just seven of 20 home games this season. Take the Predators.

The Vancouver Canucks are playing well on a 9-4 run after a 4-1 victory over Chicago yesterday. The offense is 11th on the power play, while the defense is ninth in penalty killing and fourth in shots on goal allowed. Last place Nashville is getting outscored by 17 goals, the second-worst differential in the Western Conference. The offense is last in the NHL in scoring (2.28 goals per game) and last in shooting percentage, while the defense is 21st in goals given up and 16th in save percentage. Nashville also played yesterday, a 2-0 loss to Calgary. Nashville is on a 2-8 run getting outscored 30-20. Play Vancouver.

Vancouver has used three goaltenders in this series, but it has been a positive instead of a negative thing as the Canucks have a 3-2 lead heading into Game 6 although they do come off a 2-1 loss on Tuesday. Third-string goalie Arturs Silovs stopped 20 of 22 shots, but the Canucks couldn't do enough to solve Juuse Saros, who had 19 saves for Nashville. Three of the past four games have gone UNDER and Silovs could get the start again as he has a 2.57 goals-against average and a .904 save percentage in his two playoff games. The Canucks are 9-2 after scoring two or fewer goals their previous game and they have won four of five road games against teams with winning home records. The Predators are 1-11 at home versus teams with winning road records and 2-10 overall their past 12 first round games. Vancouver is 8-2 UNDER playing with two days rest and 4-1 UNDER as a playoff underdog. Take the Canucks and the UNDER.

Vancouver may be up 3-1, but it's been a dogfight. Vancouver has a pair of one-goal wins, 2-1 and 4-3, while Nashville took Game 2, 4-1. Nashville's offense was 10th in goals scored, while the defense was 15th in goals allowed and 10th in save percentage (.907). Nashville is 29-20 on the road in the second half of the season, plus 27-15 when playing its third game in five days. Vancouver started the season hot but is just 16-15 over the last 31 contests. The Canucks are also 5-12 at home when leading in a playoff series. With Nashville 23-12 revenging a loss to an opponent, back the visitors. Play Nashville as a Max Play.