Vancouver Canucks vs Tampa Bay Lightning Prediction, 10/17/2026 NHL Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Vancouver Canucks vs Tampa Bay Lightning

Date: Saturday, October 17, 2026

Location: Benchmark International Arena in Tampa, FL

TV: Sportsnet Pacific, WXPX-TV

Odds/Point Spread: Canucks (+300) Lightning (-360)

Benchmark International Arena is where the Tampa Bay Lightning (5-2-0) will compete against the Vancouver Canucks (2-6-1) on Saturday. The moneyline on this contest has Vancouver at +300 while Tampa Bay is opening at -360. The total comes in at 6.5.

The Vancouver Canucks were on the losing side of the ice with a 3-2 defeat to the Panthers in their previous outing. Vancouver tallied 6 penalty mins in this contest. The Canucks had a rough night on the offensive side of the ice in the defeat. They also had 3 power play opportunities but weren't able to convert one of them into a goal. For the matchup, they tallied a score on 2 of the 17 shots they launched.

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Vancouver Canucks opponents have earned 30 power play opportunities (6th in the league) and have tallied 12 goals in those chances. The Canucks thus far have had 292 shots tried against them and are the owners of a save percentage of .860. Vancouver has taken 196 shots and holds a shot percentage of 14.3%. When at even strength, the Canucks have surrendered 29 goals while earning 23 as an offensive unit. Vancouver skates onto the rink with 28 power play chances and they have added 5 goals during those advantages, giving them a percentage of 17.86%. For the current season, they have tallied 5 points and their points percentage comes in at .278. In reference to their goal scoring prowess, the Vancouver Canucks have notched 28 goals (9th in the National Hockey League) over the course of the season and have given up 41.

The player guarding the cage in this matchup is Kevin Lankinen. Opponents have been able to score 641 goals versus Lankinen in his pro career and his goals against rate is 3.24. Lankinen has been in net for 216 contests during his hockey career. He has a save percentage of .896 in his 11,874 mins between the pipes. He has an overall mark of 82-90-27 and he was named the starter in 198 games. In his professional hockey career, Lankinen has earned 98 quality starts and his rate for quality starts is .495. Lankinen has seen 6,131 shot attempts taken against him and has accrued 5,491 total saves.

Their last time out, Tampa Bay went up against the Kraken in an outing where the Lightning earned a win by a tally of 4-3. They had 3 chances on the power play in this game but weren't able to finish one of them with a goal. The Lightning notched 4 goals out of the 35 shots on goal they took.

The Lightning have earned 19 goals at even strength and 2 goals (29th in the league) while on the power play. Tampa Bay has put up 212 shots (12th in pro hockey) and has earned a shooting percentage of 9.91%, while allowing the other team 170 shots. This season, the Tampa Bay Lightning have accounted for 21 goals, 10 points, and a points percentage of .714. They have permitted 19 goals to be scored by way of 15 goals at even strength and 4 goals while they had less men on the ice. They have recorded 27 power play opportunities and they have accumulated a power play rate of 7.41%. They have a penalty kill percentage of 77.78% on the other teams 18 power play opportunities, and their save percentage sits at 88.8%.

Across the ice you will find Andrei Vasilevskiy defending the net. The opposition is averaging 2.49 goals per contest and he has allowed 1,482 goals altogether. Vasilevskiy's quality start rate sits at 58.9% and he has earned 350 quality starting assignments in his professional career. He got the starting nod in 594 games and has played for a total of 15 minutes. Vasilevskiy has earned a lifetime record of 374-180-39 and has played in 604 contests. He has recorded 16,243 stops out of 17,722 shots taken against him, which gives him a percentage of .917.

Who will win tonight's NHL game against the spread or moneyline?

Josh's Pick: Take Vancouver (+300)

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