The Vegas Golden Knights (1-0-0) and Anaheim Ducks (0-1-0) face off at 10 p.m. ET Saturday at T-Mobile Arena in their second head-to-head contest in three days. The Golden Knights opened the 2021 season with a 5-2 victory Thursday. Below, we analyze the Ducks-Golden Knights NHL betting odds and lines, with picks and predictions.
The Golden Knights received goals from five different players and G Robin Lehner stopped 20 of 22 shots on net in Thursday’s win. Vegas outshot Anaheim 29-22 and sealed things with an empty-netter with just 14 seconds remaining.
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 12:32 p.m. ET.
- Money line: Ducks +200 (bet $100 to win $200) | Golden Knights -250 (bet $250 to win $100)
- Against the spread/ATS: Ducks +1.5 (-140) | Golden Knights -1.5 (+115)
- Over/Under: 6 (O: -105 | U: -115)
Ducks at Golden Knights: Projected starting goalies
John Gibson (0-1-0, .857 SV%, 4.18 GAA) vs. Robin Lehner (1-0-0, .909 SV%, 2.00 GAA)
Expect the 27-year-old Gibson back in net for the Ducks Saturday. He allowed 4 goals on 28 shots Thursday but will continue to make the lion’s share of starts. He went 1-2-1 in four games against Vegas last season.
Lehner wasn’t overly tested Thursday but got the job done with only 2 goals allowed to Ducks LW Maxime Comtois within a four-minute stretch in the second period. He figures to have plenty of goal support all season.
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Ducks at Golden Knights: Odds, betting lines, predictions and picks
Prediction
Golden Knights 6, Ducks 2
Money line (ML)
The GOLDEN KNIGHTS (-250) are a fine play with the odds representing an implied win probability of 71.43%. Vegas is a much better and more talented team up and down the ice. Twelve different players had at least 1 point Thursday, while Anaheim is much thinner in the talent department and is outmatched by Vegas on all four lines.
The Golden Knights had 24 scoring chances to 18 for the Ducks in the season-opener, according to NaturalStatTrick.com. Gibson is capable of stealing games for the cellar-dwelling Ducks from time-to-time, but not many of those will come against true Stanley Cup contenders like the Knights.
Against the spread (ATS)
Get a better value with the GOLDEN KNIGHTS -1.5 (+115) by backing to win by at least 2 goals. The alternate line of -2.5 (+200) is also in play, though it may require another empty-net goal late in the game.
The Knights beat the Ducks twice by a 5-2 score last season with another win by a 6-5 count in overtime and a 4-3 loss.
Over/Under (O/U)
Take the OVER 6 (-105). The Ducks don’t have a defensive line capable of shutting down the Golden Knights’ top forwards.
The two teams combined for 7 goals Thursday with just one power-play opportunity for either side. A less-disciplined effort should see a few more tallies in the rematch.
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