The Anaheim Ducks and Vegas Golden Knights open the 2020-21 NHL regular season against each other Thursday for a 10 p.m. ET puck drop at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Below, we analyze the Ducks-Golden Knights NHL betting odds and lines, with picks and predictions.
Ducks at Golden Knights: Betting odds, spread and lines
Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 8:35 a.m. ET.
- Money line: Ducks +185 (bet $100 to win $185) | Golden Knights -225 (bet $225 to win $100)
- Against the spread/ATS: Ducks +1.5 (-150) | Golden Knights -1.5 (+125)
- Over/Under: 6 (O: -110 | U: -110)
Ducks at Golden Knights: Projected starting goalies
John Gibson (20-26-5, 3.00 GAA, .904 SV%) at Robin Lehner (19-10-5, 2.89 GAA, .920 SV%)
Gibson is expected to make the start in the opener, but it could be a struggle. He was just 7-14-3 with a 3.29 GAA and .898 SV% across 24 starts away from home last season. In addition, he was a dismal 1-2-1 with a 4.48 GAA and .878 SV% in four outings against VGK last season.
Lehner was acquired midway through the season from the rebuilding Chicago Blackhawks, and he quickly moved to the top of the depth chart over fan-favorite Marc-Andre Fleury. Lehner posted a solid 2-0-0 mark against the Ducks last season with a sparkling 1.99 GAA and .947 SV% in his two appearances.
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Ducks at Golden Knights: Odds, betting lines, predictions and picks
Prediction
Golden Knights 5, Ducks 2
Money line (ML)
The Golden Knights (-225) should coast to a victory in the opener, but risking more than two times your potential return is just not a good long-term betting strategy, especially in the opener. You just never know. We saw three of the underdogs cash in Wednesday’s opening slate of games. AVOID.
Against the spread (ATS)
If you bet on the home side, take GOLDEN KNIGHTS -1.5 (+125) at plus-money on their home ice. In their final five wins on home ice last season they also covered the puck line, winning by at least two goals with a differential of 2.4 goals per game in the five wins.
Over/Under (O/U)
The OVER 6 (-110) is way to go here, as the high-flying Vegas offense should be able to dent Gibson frequently. We’ll get some firewagon hockey from a Golden Knights side that rolled up 227 goals last season in 71 regular-season games, third-most in the Western Conference.
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