The Vancouver Canucks and Vegas Golden Knights lock horns in Game 7 of their Western Conference Semifinals best-of-seven series Friday at 9 p.m. ET at Rogers Place in Edmonton. Below, we analyze the Canucks-Golden Knights NHL betting odds and lines, with picks and best bets.
Canucks vs. Golden Knights: Projected starting goalies
Thatcher Demko vs. Marc-Andre Fleury/Robin Lehner
Opportunity knocked, and Demko has not only answered the door, but he has kicked it in and is going nuts. He was super in Game 5, making 42 saves on 43 shots in a 2-1 victory in Game 5 with Jacob Markstrom nursing a groin injury. There was no way Demko could get any better, right? Wrong. He stopped all 48 shots he faced in Game 6, helping the Canucks bounce back from a 3-1 series hole to force Friday’s Game 7. It has been an unbelievable ride, and now he has to play on consecutive nights, which will be a first for him.
Lehner coughed up three goals on 22 shots in Game 6, losing for the second straight game. He has two shutouts in this series, but he has looked very mediocre in the previous two outings, perhaps because he has been lulled to sleep. He has faced a total of just 39 shots, allowing five goals. On the flip side, Demko has faced 91 shots in the past two games, making 90 saves. For goaltenders, sometimes more action is good. Fleury is likely to get the nod for Game 7. He has started three times since the restart and won all three. Will the veteran get the nod and help his team move on?
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Canucks vs. Golden Knights: Odds, picks and betting tips
Odds courtesy of BetMGM; access them at USA TODAY Sports for a full list. Odds last updated at 5:52 a.m. ET.
Prediction
Golden Knights 3, Canucks 2
Moneyline (ML)
The Golden Knights (-239) are huge favorites for Game 7, while the Canucks (+195) are the tempting play since it will nearly double up your investment. AVOID. I think VGK comes through and ends up winning this one, sending the upstart Canucks to the handshake line, but I’m not betting against a red-hot goalie like Demko. Sometimes you need a dude to come in and stand on his head, stealing a game or two. If this game were Saturday, with a day of rest in between, I’d gladly back Demko and the ‘Nucks. But playing for the first time in back-to-back days concerns me.
New to sports betting? A winning $10 bet on the Golden Knights fetches a profit of just $4.50, while a $10 bet on the Canucks returns a profit of $18.50 if they pull the upset.
Puck Line/Against the Spread (ATS)
The CANUCKS +1.5 (-139) are a cheap play on the puck line as an underdog. I backed Vancouver in Game 6 with the same bet, and it turns out I didn’t need the extra insurance. But I’ll take it here. I envision a tight one-goal battle like Game 5.
Over/Under (O/U)
UNDER 6 (-110) is the selection here, as Demko has been playing out of his mind. Win or lose, it’s hard to see this kid just coming apart like a cheap suit. He has a ton of confidence on his side. He’ll give up a few goals, but this one will still be a rather low-scoring affair, which could be decided in overtime.
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