The Vancouver Canucks' playoff hopes hang by a thread as they welcome the Pacific Division-leading Vegas Golden Knights to Rogers Arena for their third meeting of the season.
With the Canucks struggling on both ends of the ice—ranking 22nd in goals scored and 20th in goals allowed—they'll need Kevin Lankinen to significantly improve upon his recent form, having allowed 14 goals on 78 shots over his last three starts.
Sunday's back-to-back situation adds another layer of complexity to what's shaping up as a crucial test of resilience for the Vancouver Canucks vs Vegas Golden Knights.
Vancouver Canucks vs. Vegas Golden Knights prediction: who will win?
For tonight's Vancouver Canucks vs Vegas Golden Knights matchup, our predictive model gives the Knights a 54% chance of defeating the Canucks.
Pre-game probabilities
Vancouver Canucks
Moneyline
Win %
46%
54%
Vegas Golden Knights
Vancouver Canucks: 46% win probability
- Inconsistent recent form (WLLLW shows struggles with maintaining momentum)
- Defensive vulnerabilities (236 goals against ranks 10th in Western Conference)
- Lower overall win percentage (35 wins in 76 games translates to a .461 win percentage)
Vegas Golden Knights: 54% win probability
- Superior point production (100 points in 76 games vs 83 points in 76 games for Canucks)
- More consistent winning record (46 wins compared to 35 for Vancouver)
- Better defensive performance (204 goals against compared to 236 for Vancouver)
At Sporting Post, our unique prediction model combines insights from top NHL experts.
Instead of sifting through hundreds of expert analyses across the web, you can rely on our predictions to understand the market's overall sentiment. We scan trusted sources, analyzing predictions, data, and opinions, and our AI assigns a confidence level to each prediction. We then average these levels to produce an 'expert opinion' win probability—reflecting the collective intelligence of the industry's leading NHL experts.
| Vancouver Canucks | Vegas Golden Knights | |
|---|---|---|
| Moneyline |
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Vancouver Canucks vs. Vegas Golden Knights preview
The Pacific Division showdown at Rogers Arena tonight pits the top-ranked Golden Knights against a desperate Canucks squad fighting to keep their playoff hopes alive.
Vegas rolls into Vancouver looking to bounce back from their recent skid, having dropped games to Edmonton and Winnipeg after an impressive six-game win streak earlier in the month.
The Canucks, meanwhile, are in serious trouble following three straight losses, including an embarrassing 5-0 shutout at home against Seattle that left fans fuming.
What makes this matchup particularly interesting is that both teams are playing their second game in two nights, with Vegas likely giving Akira Schmid his first start while Vancouver turns to Kevin Lankinen, who's surrendered a concerning 14 goals in his last three starts.
The Golden Knights have already beaten Vancouver twice this season by identical 3-1 scores, showcasing their defensive prowess and offensive firepower that ranks fifth in the league at 3.35 goals per game.
Vancouver's offense has been wildly inconsistent all year—they're 22nd in scoring—and they'll need to find ways to crack a Vegas defense that's been one of the NHL's stingiest units.
While fatigue will certainly be a factor for both squads, I'm keeping my eye on Schmid, who hasn't allowed a goal in his relief appearances this season and has a chance to prove himself as more than just a backup.
If the Canucks have any shot at salvaging their fading playoff hopes, they'll need to drastically improve their home performance and find a way to slow down a Vegas team that's simply deeper and more talented across the board.
Vancouver Canucks vs. Vegas Golden Knights form
Vancouver Canucks vs. Vegas Golden Knights head to head
Vancouver Canucks
33%
Vegas Golden Knights
67%
Feb 23, 2025
Vegas Golden Knights
3 : 1
Vancouver Canucks
Dec 20, 2024
Vegas Golden Knights
3 : 1
Vancouver Canucks
Apr 9, 2024
Vancouver Canucks
4 : 3
Vegas Golden Knights
Apr 3, 2024
Vegas Golden Knights
6 : 3
Vancouver Canucks
Mar 8, 2024
Vegas Golden Knights
1 : 3
Vancouver Canucks
Dec 1, 2023
Vancouver Canucks
1 : 4
Vegas Golden Knights
