Canucks Now -120 Favorites to Beat Wild After Opening at -140 Odds

• The Canucks have seen their odds to defeat the Wild in the qualifying round lengthened
• Minnesota is now being given +100 odds to advance
• Read below for a preview of the series and our best bet

The Vancouver Canucks have seen their odds to defeat the Minnesota Wild in the playoff qualifying round lengthened after opening as -140 favorites. Vancouver is now in the -120 range at online sportsbooks, while Minnesota is listed around +100.

The Canucks are sitting at +4000 in the 2020 Stanley Cup Odds, while the Wild are being given +6000 odds.

What is causing bettors to lay underdog money on Minnesota? Are the Canucks still a strong bet to defeat the Wild in the play-in round?

Canucks vs Wild Odds

Wild Getting Underdog Love 

The Wild have seen their odds to defeat the Canucks in the play-in round improve after opening as a +120 underdog. Vancouver still has shorter odds, but it shows that oddsmakers are predicting a close series.

Not much has changed since the odds first opened, but any potential “hub city advantage” for Vancouver is no more. The Canucks were a front-runner to be a hub city for the playoffs when the odds first opened, but the league ultimately chose Edmonton and Toronto.

#Canucks statement on @NHL hub city bid. pic.twitter.com/qs6v4EOO7w

— Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks) June 25, 2020

The Canucks hold the edge in several matchup areas, including goaltending, but there’s one developing story worth monitoring. 23-year-old Finnish goaltender Kaapo Kahkonen, who was voted AHL goaltender of the year, has been standing on his head in Minnesota’s training camp. With neither Devan Dubnyk or Alex Stalock having great seasons, the Wild could roll the dice on the talented youngster to give them a better chance against Jacob Markstrom’s Canucks.

Hughes Gets Calder Nod

As expected, Vancouver’s impressive rookie blueliner Quinn Hughes was officially nominated for the 2020 Calder Trophy. The 20-year-old is coming off an incredible regular season in which he finished fifth among all NHL defenseman in scoring with eight goals and 53 points in 68 games. Vancouver’s youth going up against Minnesota’s aging core is a primary reason to bet the Canucks in this series.

No doubt in my mind: Quinn Hughes is better now than he was during the season. With four months to train and get stronger, he looks like he’s in his second year.

— Iain MacIntyre (@imacSportsnet) July 25, 2020

Another positive for the Canucks during training camp is the play of Michael Ferland. The 28-year-old agitator was limited to just 14 games in his first year with Vancouver due to a concussion, but he’s back to full health and has been impressing in scrimmages. Ferland has shown in the past he can be a very effective playoff performer, so getting him back in the lineup would give the Canucks an added physical edge.

Kaprizov Ineligible For Tournament 

The Minnesota Wild made a big splash this month when they signed their top prospect, Russian forward Kirill Kaprizov, to a two-year, entry-level contract.  While there’s been some buzz that the sniper could be a difference maker in the playoffs, NHL rules state that Kaprizov won’t be eligible to participate in the 2020 postseason.

#mnwild signs forward Kirill Kaprizov to two-year, entry-Level contract pic.twitter.com/2dzSJksAcC

— Minnesota Wild PR (@mnwildPR) July 13, 2020

Having Kaprizov in the fold would have given the Wild a big boost in the qualifying round, as they currently lack the star power of the Canucks. Kevin Fiala was the only Minnesota player to reach the 50-point mark this season, while Elias Pettersson, J.T Miller, Bo Horvat and Quinn Hughes all accomplished the feat for Vancouver.

Vancouver’s offensive edge is a primary reason why they remain the favorite at sportsbooks. After such a long layoff, the most talented team is likely to prevail in a best-of-five series. The Canucks defeating the Wild was one of my favorite bets in the opening play-in odds, and I feel the same way at the current prices.

Betting Advice

The Canucks’ odds lengthening can be viewed as a gift to potential bettors. Vancouver is the more talented team on paper, and in this unique return-to-play format, the Canucks talented youth should carry them to victory in the qualifying round.

Pick: Vancouver Canucks (-122)