Welcome back to NHL Predictions. Each day, Last Word on Hockey reviews the scheduled games and offers insight and analysis to help predict who will win in head-to-head matchups. Today, we preview the game between the Montreal Canadiens and the Anaheim Ducks. Check out more NHL Predictions as the 2024-25 season continues.
NHL Predictions
Montreal Canadiens vs Anaheim Ducks
Head to Head: Canadiens 1 – 0 Ducks
Time: 4:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST)
TV: TSN2; RDS; KTTV; Victory+; ESPN+
The Anaheim Ducks (21-24-6) return home after a short two-game road trip to Seattle and Calgary and will host the Montreal Canadiens (24-22-5) at Honda Center in Anaheim, CA, on February 2, 2025. This is the second of two meetings between these two teams. Montreal won the first matchup 3-2 in a shootout on December 9. Troy Terry had a solid game with two goals and just missed the hat trick when he hit the crossbar late in overtime. It was Jacob Trouba‘s first game with the Ducks, and Patrick Laine scored one of his signature but Ovi-esque powerplay one-timer goals.
Montreal Canadiens Looking to Snap Losing Skid
The Habs are 4-4-2 in their last 10 games and are on a 2-game losing skid. They are, however, firmly in the Eastern Conference playoff hunt and sit just outside the last wild-card spot. Scoring is proving to be an issue. In their previous two games, the Canadiens only have one goal. Nick Suzuki leads the team with four points in their last five games. Martin St. Louis will be looking to players like Cole Caufield and Patrick Laine to step up for the team to make a playoff push. Goaltender Jakub Dobes has been a revelation. He is 5-1-1 in 7 games since joining the Habs with an impressive 2.10 goals against average and .927 save percentage. Look for him to start in net against Anaheim.
Anaheim Ducks Offence Needs to Keep Producing
After an uncharacteristic hot streak, the Ducks came crashing back to earth. In a building they always have trouble with, the Ducks’ three-game win streak and a three-game streak of scoring five or more goals came to a halt in a 4-1 defeat to the Flames. The Ducks continue to prove that the only way this iteration of the team will succeed is by outscoring their terrible team defence (Let’s be clear. Defence. Not goaltending). The team is 20-0-2 when they score 3+ goals, but they average only 2.51 per game. If the team is going to improve that number, they will continue to rely on Mason McTavish‘s recent surge in scoring. McTavish leads the team with six goals and seven points in the previous five games. It will take more than him, though. Players like Trevor Zegras, Troy Terry, and especially Leo Carlsson must also find their hot hands. If they do not, the burden will continue to fall on Lukas Dostal and John Gibson to steal wins for the Ducks. Expect Dostal to get the nod. He has a 2.96 goals against average and a .908 save percentage this season.
Prediction
This looks like a close matchup, with Montreal and Anaheim having strengths and weaknesses that even things out. The Canadiens have a slight edge defensively, while the Ducks rely more on outscoring their issues. Given both teams ‘ scoring trends, a 3-3 game after regulation is a reasonable outcome. Montreal’s Jakub Dobes has been solid on the net, while Mason McTavish has been leading Anaheim’s offense. This one goes to a shootout, where Montreal has a slight advantage, with Laine, Suzuki, and Caufield giving them a bit more finishing ability. The Ducks drop their first game after scoring three or more goals.
Prediction: Canadiens win 4 – 3 in a shootout.
Prop Bets of the Night
We close out our NHL Predictions for the Montreal Canadiens vs Anaheim Ducks with some of our preferred prop bets of the night. Keep an eye on Leo Carlsson anytime goal (+430), who has not scored in the last six games. He’s due. Odds courtesy of FanDuel. Record this season (6-12).
Note: Always check the latest team news and player statuses before placing any bets, as injuries and other factors can influence game outcomes.
Main Photo: David Kirouac- Imagn Images
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The post NHL Predictions: February 2 Montreal Canadiens vs Anaheim Ducks appeared first on Last Word On Hockey.