Vancouver Canucks at Utah Hockey Club odds, picks and predictions

The Vancouver Canucks (26-19-11) visit the Utah Hockey Club (24-24-9) Sunday at Delta Center in Salt Lake City. Puck drop is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET (ESPN+). Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s NHL odds around the Canucks vs. Utah Hockey Club odds and make our expert NHL picks and predictions.

Season series: Utah Hockey Club leads 1-0

The Utah Hockey Club won 3-2 in overtime on Dec. 18 in the first meeting in the Pacific Northwest as a moderate favorite (-113) as the Under (6) cashed.

The Canucks lost a 3-1 loss on the road against the Vegas Golden Knights Saturday as a heavy underdog (+192) as the Under (5.5) cashed. G Kevin Lankinen allowed 2 goals on 34 shots.

Utah was tripped up 5-3 on the road against the LA Kings Saturday, and it has allowed a total of 16 goals in the past 3 games, or an average of 5.3 goals per game (GPG). In the losing effort against the Kings, C Barrett Hayton had 2 power-play goals and an even-strength marker for the hat trick. Unsurprisingly, the Over has cashed in 3 consecutive outings.

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Canucks at Utah Hockey Club odds

Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 7:26 a.m. ET.

• Moneyline (ML): Canucks +125 (bet $100 to win $125) | Utah Hockey Club -150 (bet $150 to win $100)
• Puck line (PL)/Against the spread (ATS): Canucks +1.5 (-210) | Utah Hockey League -1.5 (+170)
• Over/Under (O/U): 5.5 (O: -115 | U: -105)

Canucks at Utah Hockey Club projected goalies

Arturs Silovs (1-4-1, 4.11 GAA, .847 SV%) vs. Karel Vejmelka (13-15-4, 2.57 GAA, .909 SV%, 1 SO)

Silovs is expected to make his first appearance since Nov. 27, as he has been down at AHL Abbotsford. He was recalled this week with Thatcher Demko sidelined with a lower-body injury. Demko is considered week-to-week, so Silovs could stick around a while behind Lankinen. The latter started Saturday, so with the back-to-back, it looks like it is Silovs time.

Vejmelka is expected to start Sunday after Connor Ingram was in between the pipes Saturday in Los Angeles. Vejmelka allowed 6 goals on 37 shots in his most recent start in Carolina Feb. 8. He made a relief appearance Feb. 9, too, allowing 2 goals on 32 shots in a comeback win in a shootout.

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Canucks at Utah Hockey Club picks and predictions

Prediction

Utah Hockey League 3, Canucks 2

Moneyline

The UTAH HOCKEY CLUB (-150) are worth a look as moderate favorites in this home game.

Vejmelka has allowed 3 or fewer goals in 5 of his past 6 appearances since Jan. 23, and he is 1-0-1 in the past 2 starts at Delta Center, including 2 goals allowed on 20 shots in a 3-2 OTW against the Philadelphia Flyers Feb. 4.

The Canucks (+125) have had trouble scoring lately, going for just 36 goals in the past 17 games, or just 2.1 GPG since Jan. 8.

Puck line/Against the spread

The Canucks +1.5 (-210) will cost you more than 2 times your potential return, and that’s way too much risk for just a little bit of insurance. And, personally, I don’t like taking an underdog on the puck line, as a late empty-net goal can ruin a potential cover in the blink of an eye.

PASS.

Over/Under

UNDER 5.5 (-105) is worth a look, but go lightly.

The total has gone low in 5 straight outings, and, again, Vancouver’s offense has had a terrible time lighting the lamp in the past 6 weeks or so.

For Utah, the Over has hit in 3 in a row, but the Over is still 6-3 in the past 9 outings. Go low, but don’t get carried away.

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