Canucks -305 Series Favorites After Game 3 Win Over Wild

• The Vancouver Canucks beat the Wild 3-0 in Game 3 of their qualifying-round series
• With a 2-1 series lead, the Canucks are now -305 favorites to eliminate Minnesota
• Read below for the best bet based on the updated odds

The Vancouver Canucks are now -305 favorites to beat the Minnesota Wild in the qualifying round after winning Game 3 to take a 2-1 series lead. The Canucks were listed as slight series underdogs to the Wild as they entered Game 3.

Game 4 of the best-of-five series will be played on Friday, August 7 at 10:45 PM EST. The Canucks have +105 odds to win Game 4, while the Wild are -121 favorites. The Wild also recently surpassed Vancouver in the updated 2020 Stanley Cup odds.

Is Vancouver a good bet to close out the series? Should you jump on Minnesota making a comeback now that they’re series underdogs?

Updated Canucks vs Wild Series Odds

Odds as of August 6th.

Markstrom Blanks Wild

Vancouver goaltender Jacob Markstrom stopped all 27 shots he faced to help the Canucks defeat Minnesota 3-0 in Game 3 of their best-of-five series on Thursday. After turning in mediocre performances in the first two games of the series, Markstrom finally played to his full potential in Game 3.

27 shots came Jacob Markstrom's (@j_markstrom) way and he stopped them all.

He earned that @pepsi shutout. #StanleyCup Qualifiers pic.twitter.com/MH67dO3btJ

— NHL (@NHL) August 6, 2020

Markstrom has always been one of the primary reasons Vancouver was the smart bet in this series. The Swedish netminder posted a terrific .918 save percentage in the regular season and can flat-out steal games when he’s at his best. Markstrom stymied the Wild on Thursday and posted a shutout despite the Wild being given seven power plays.

Wild netminder Alex Stalock simply isn’t on the same level as Markstrom. He’s been burned for seven goals in his last two starts and doesn’t have the elite talent that is required to shutdown an offense as dynamic as Vancouver’s.

Boeser and Pettersson Are Dynamic Duo 

Brock Boeser and Elias Pettersson each had a goal and an assist to lead the charge offensively for Vancouver in Game 3. The two young forwards have developed a unique chemistry together and now have a combined three goals and six points in the series.

Brock Boeser lays out on the PP to bang home the rebound and give the #Canucks the 1-0 lead. pic.twitter.com/KO8KQ9nuEP

— Sportsnet 650 (@Sportsnet650) August 6, 2020

Another positive for Vancouver from Game 3 is the play of Quinn Hughes. The Canucks’ rookie blueliner had three assists, including two on the power play, in just his third career postseason contest. Vancouver’s talented youngsters are quickly putting to rest any concerns about their lack of postseason experience.

It’s been over five periods since a player besides Kevin Fiala scored a goal for the Wild. Fiala is proving to be a rising superstar, but he can’t do it all by himself. Vancouver is loaded with offensive weapons and have showcased their dominance in the last two games.

Bet Vancouver to Close Out Series

Vancouver’s talent is proving to be too much for the Wild. Add in the fact Markstrom just played his best game of the postseason and it’s hard to see the Wild winning two straight to knock off Vancouver.

🤗🤗🤗 pic.twitter.com/MkHiRZ5ERJ

— Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks) August 6, 2020

The -305 series odds for Vancouver isn’t terrible value when you consider how well they’ve played over the last two games, but their +105 individual game odds for Game 4 seems like a gift and the smart bet.

Vancouver is yet to allow a 5-on-5 goal in this series and also shutdown Minnesota’s power play in Game 3. The Wild don’t have much to offer offensively outside of Kevin Fiala, while the Canucks’ young core is catching fire and exploiting Minnesota’s defense. Take the Canucks at plus-odds to win Game 4.

Pick: Vancouver Canucks to win Game 4 (+105)