By Andrew Phillip Chernoff CanucksBanter

March 8, 2023

Anaheim Ducks (21-35-8, seventh in the Pacific Division) vs. Vancouver Canucks (26-32-5, sixth in the Pacific Division)

Vancouver, British Columbia; Wednesday, 7 p.m. PST

Last Games

Vancouver defeated Nashville Predators at Rogers Arena on Monday, March 6th 4-3 in a shootout.

Anaheim lost 5-2 to Seattle Kraken in Seattle last night.

Canucks are on a 6-game homestand that started with a 2-1 loss to Minnesota, and wins over Toronto 4-1 and Nashville 4-3 SO.

Anaheim Ducks

The Anaheim Ducks have found tremendous individual success from the likes of Trevor Zegras, Mason Mactavish and Troy Terry this season, but unfortunately, it hasn’t turned into team success, and now they find themselves looking at the top of the 2023 NHL Draft in order to add more youth and excitement.

Unfortunately, that means the next few weeks could continue being ugly, as they are just 1-9 in their past 10 games played on 0 days rest, as well as 14-38 in their last 52 games on the road, so while the development is good, it just isn’t resulting in wins at the moment.

Source: statsalt.com

Vancouver Canucks

The Vancouver Canucks were expected to take a massive leap forward in 2022/23 and contend for a playoff spot, but with injuries and inconsistency, they’ve instead fallen to sixth place in the Pacific, fired their coach and traded away some key veterans, but not all hope is lost.

The team still have some great pieces to build around, and have played well as of late, with a 10-4 mark in their past 14 games against the Pacific, as well as a 4-1 record in their past 5 games playing on 1 day rest, so if they can stay hot to end 2022/23, it will give them confidence going forward.

Source: statsalt.com

The Canucks hope to get a quick start on the Ducks and get their third win of their 6- game homestand.

In recent years, the fortunes of both these franchises have been eerily similar, but what is surprising is the fact that the Ducks have actually found quite a bit of success against their Pacific Division rival.

In this one however, the Ducks are playing a back-to-back after a tough loss against Seattle, and with Vancouver winning three of their past four games and having the advantage all over the ice, the favored Canucks should come away winners here.

Source: statsalt.com

CANUCKS TO WATCH

• Elias Pettersson has 23 points (11-12-23) in his last 15 games.
• Quinn Hughes has 15 points (0-15-15) in his last 13 games.
• Andrei Kuzmenko has 12 points (7-5-12) in his last 10 games.
• Anthony Beauvillier has 12 points (6-6-12) in his last 12 games.
• J.T. Miller has eight points (3-5-8) in his last eight games.