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The Anaheim Ducks (1-0-0) meet the Vegas Golden Knights (2-0-0) at T-Mobile Arena Sunday. Puck drop is scheduled for 10 p.m. ET (ESPN+). Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s NHL odds around the Ducks vs. Golden Knights odds and make our expert NHL picks and predictions.
Season series: First meeting; Ducks won 3-1 in 2023-24
The Ducks were in action Saturday night in San Jose, and Anaheim picked up a 2-0 victory. C Isac Lundestrom broke a scoreless tie midway through the 3rd period and C Trevor Zegras added an empty-net goal for insurance to win the season opener.
In games with no rest lastbseason, Anaheim went just 3-8-0 with a minus-19 goal differential in 11 tries, and it’s one of the reasons it decided to shore up the backup goaltender spot with veteran James Reimer.
It was rather shocking, but the Ducks won 3 of the 4 regular-season meetings with the Golden Knights, including a 4-1 victory April 18 as a giant underdog (+303) as the Under (6.5) cashed. In fact, Anaheim has won 3 in a row in the series, outscoring Vegas 13-5. The Under went 3-1 in the 4 meetings in 2023-24.
The Golden Knights doubled up the Colorado Avalanche 8-4 in the regular-season opener Wednesday, taking care of the Over (6.5) on their own. Vegas then eased by the St. Louis Blues 4-3 as a heavy underdog (-208), although it didn’t cover the puck line. The Over (6) also cashed in that one.
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Ducks at Golden Knights odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list of NHL odds. Lines last updated at 7:08 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Ducks +230 (bet $100 to win $230) | Golden Knights -300 (bet $300 to win $100)
- Puck line (PL)/Against the spread (ATS): Ducks +1.5 (-105) | Golden Knights -1.5 (-115)
- Over/Under (O/U): 6.5 (O: +100 | U: -120)
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Ducks at Golden Knights projected goalies
James Reimer (11-8-2, 3.11 GAA, .904 SV%, 2 SO – 2023-24 w/Red Wings) vs. Adin Hill (2-0-0, 3.50 GAA, .870 SV%)
Reimer is expected to make his team debut after a back-to-back situation. He allowed 4 goals on 35 shots in a 5-3 loss March 9 in Vegas in his only appearance with the Red Wings against VGK last season.
Hill allowed 4 goals on 32 shots against the Avalanche in the opener, and he was the backstop in the 4-3 win over the Blues, tasked with making 22 saves. He hasn’t been crisp, but he has led the Golden Knights to a pair of wins so far.
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Ducks at Golden Knights picks and predictions
Prediction
Ducks 4, Golden Knights 3
Moneyline
The DUCKS (+230) are worth playing in Sunday’s game. Anaheim stunned the Golden Knights (-300) in 3 of the 4 meetings last season.
Reimer gives the Ducks a veteran presence as the backup goaltender. Hill has been shaky so far for VGK, although he has led it to a pair of wins. However, the offense has needed to do a lot of the heavy lifting.
Puck line/Against the spread
The DUCKS +1.5 (-105) are not priced out of line if you would like some insurance, and just cannot roll the dice on playing the heavy underdogs straight up despite Anaheim’s dominance in the series last season.
Over/Under
OVER 6.5 (+100) is worth playing lightly, so go with a half-unit play at most.
The Over has cashed for both games for the Golden Knights so far, averaging 6.0 goals per game (GPG), while allowing 3.5 GPG.
While the Under went 3-1 in the regular-season series last season, and it is 7-2 in the past 9 meetings, let’s go high on the total, as the Ducks could have some heavy legs on defense after playing in a back-to-back situation.
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