Welcome back to another edition of NHL Predictions. Each day, Last Word on Hockey reviews the scheduled games and offers insight and analysis to help predict who will win in key head-to-head matchups. Today, we preview the Anaheim Ducks vs Nashville Predators. Check out more NHL Predictions as the 2024-25 season continues.
NHL Predictions
Anaheim Ducks vs Nashville Predators
Head to Head: Ducks 2 – 0 Predators
Time: 8 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT)
TV: Victory+; FDSNSO; ESPN+
The Anaheim Ducks (29-31-8) will head down Broadway to take on the Nashville Predators (35-25-8) at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee on March 20th. This will be the third and final matchup of their season series. Despite some key offseason moves that went Nashville’s way, Anaheim has had the Predator’s number this year, winning both previous meetings (5-2 and 2-1). The Ducks will look to complete the season sweep, while the Predators aim to finally break and give their fans something to cheer about.
The Predators were on a four-game winning streak, but Anaheim managed to cool them off last week in a tight 2-1 battle. They haven’t won since. Expect Nashville to come out motivated and ready to play, while Anaheim looks to play spoiler in Nashville once again.
Anaheim Ducks Looking to the Future
The Ducks’ season has been marked by inconsistency. However, some recent performances have shown promise. Notably, they played a solid game against one of the Cup favorites in Dallas, forcing OT before falling 4-3. According to MoneyPuck‘s latest projections, their chances of making the playoffs are slim; 0.1% to be exact. The rest of the season, fans will be watching to find glimmers of hope for next season and beyond. Speaking of that, goaltender Lukas Dostal has been a steady presence. Offensively, Leo Carlsson has been a standout, delivering point-per-game play over the last 10+ games, and impressing with his hands on a penalty shot attempt against Dallas. He used his “go-to” move to score on Jake Oettinger. “Go-to” is in quotes because it’s wild to imagine a second-year 20-year-old with a signature move, but that’s former second-overall pick material from Leo Carlsson. While the Ducks wait for John Gibson to return from injury, expect Lukas Dostal to continue as the workhorse. He has a 2.96 save percentage and .908 save percentage this season.
Nashville Predators Seeking Redemption
The Predators are eager to rebound after their last loss to the Ducks, which snapped a four-game winning streak. Key players like Filip Forsberg, who had a 10-game point streak earlier in the season, will be crucial in reigniting the team’s offensive prowess. New acquisition Jakub Vrana, who scored his first goal with Nashville against Anaheim last week, adds depth to their attack. Juuse Saros has had a disappointing season by his high standards. His 2.96 goals-against average is not too bad, but his .896 save percentage leaves some to be desired.
In terms of playoff aspirations, the Predators may as well start making tee times. As of March 19th, they are 17 points behind the Vancouver Canucks and St. Louis Blues, who are tied for the second wild-card spot in the Western Conference. This significant gap emphasizes how wrong this season has gone for the Predators. After a big offseason that saw the Predators bring in Jonathan Marchessault and Steven Stamkos, missing the playoffs may be the most shocking disappointment in the league. Ducks fans will be grinning though because those two players could have been destined for Anaheim. Pat Verbeek may have dodged a bullet there.
Prediction
This game promises to be a very tight-checking affair with both teams trading goals in the first two periods. Expect the Ducks to power through late and secure the win with Leo Carlsson playing a prominent role for the team, keeping their slim playoff hopes alive.
Prediction: Ducks win 4 – 2
Prop Bets of the Night
We close out our NHL Predictions for the Anaheim Ducks vs Nashville Predators with some of our preferred prop bets of the night. Ducks moneyline looks good at +140. Also, consider Ryan Strome anytime goal at +350. Odds courtesy of FanDuel. Season record (13-26).
Note: Always check the latest team news and player statuses before placing any bets, as injuries and other factors can influence game outcomes.
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Main Photo: Ryan Sun-Imagn Images
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