Detroit Red Wings vs Vancouver-canucks Picks and Predictions December 1st 2024

Canucks Look to Continue Successful Trek in Clash vs. Red Wings

Vancouver Aiming for Winning Road Trip

The Vancouver Canucks are poised to secure a winning record on their six-game road trip as they face the Detroit Red Wings on Sunday afternoon. Riding high after a thrilling 4-3 overtime victory against the Buffalo Sabres on Friday, the Canucks have proven formidable away from home, boasting a 9-2-0 road record this season.

Garland Shines in Overtime Victory

Forward Conor Garland played a pivotal role in Vancouver’s win over Buffalo, delivering two goals and an assist, including the game-winner in overtime. His seven-game point streak is a career best, solidifying his impact on the team’s offensive success.

“Hate giving up the lead, but great fight in overtime there just to get another point,” Garland said. “It’s a tough road trip, but (we are) happy with our start.”

Goaltender Kevin Lankinen also played a crucial role, making 31 saves, including clutch stops in overtime.

“Lanks with that save in overtime, those are big-time plays for you,” Canucks coach Rick Tocchet noted. “The overall game had its ebbs and flows, but those key moments are what stand out.”

Canucks Building Momentum on the Road

Vancouver’s road trip has been marked by strong performances, including wins against Ottawa and Boston. Their victory in Buffalo came after a narrow loss to Pittsburgh, and the Canucks will look to build on this momentum before wrapping up their trip in Minnesota on Tuesday.

Red Wings Struggling on the Penalty Kill

The Red Wings, meanwhile, are coming off a disappointing 5-4 home loss to the New Jersey Devils on Friday. Detroit’s penalty-kill unit faltered again, allowing three power-play goals. The Red Wings sit last in the league with a penalty kill success rate of 66.2%.

“On the penalty kill, we take a lot of pride to get it done,” forward Tyler Motte said. “We had an opportunity to get out of the first period and have a lead, and we didn’t get it done.”

Detroit’s inability to capitalize on its power plays added to their struggles. Lucas Raymond, who extended his goal streak to five games, emphasized the importance of execution: “If we do what we’re supposed to do, we can play against any team. Their power play was a huge part.”

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Recent Form and Key Performances

Raymond’s continued hot streak and first goals of the season from Motte and Justin Holl offered silver linings for Detroit. However, the team’s inability to protect leads and their penalty-kill woes remain pressing concerns.

Series Outlook

The Canucks and Red Wings split their two-game series last season, with each team looking to set the tone early in this year’s first meeting. Vancouver’s road dominance and Detroit’s defensive vulnerabilities suggest a compelling matchup in Detroit.