Ducks vs Penguins Prediction — Can Anaheim’s Firepower Burn Through Pittsburgh?

The Anaheim Ducks, sitting at 18-10-1, head into Pittsburgh tonight to take on the Penguins, who are sitting at 14-7-6 in a cross-conference clash between 2 teams heating up. Anaheim torched the Blackhawks 7-1 on Sunday and comes in with some serious scoring momentum, while the Penguins will look to bounce back from a shootout loss in Dallas. Sure, Pittsburgh’s home record is solid at 6-4-2, but Anaheim already took the 1st game in this season series back in October and is hunting for the sweep.

Game Details and Current Odds

This game is set for 7:00 PM ET tonight in Pittsburgh and will be shown on ESPN+ and local networks, so there’s no reason you should miss this game. DraftKings has the Penguins favored at -122 on the moneyline, with the Ducks listed at near even at +102. The total is 6.5 goals, with a slight lean toward the under at -105.

Despite Anaheim’s hot offense, the bookmakers apparently are expecting a tight game with a modest total. This makes sense on the surface — Pittsburgh plays tighter defensively, while Anaheim plays faster and looser.

Ducks Have Found Another Gear Offensively

Anaheim has exploded offensively as of late. They’re led by Leo Carlsson, who’s now up to 38 points on the season, spanning 16 goals and 22 helpers, and he’s backed by Troy Terry and Mason McTavish, with Terry piling up 23 assists and McTavish putting together a strong 10-game stretch of his own. The Ducks are scoring 3.59 GPG, which is 2nd-best in the NHL behind only the dominant Avs.

They’ve also won 6 of their last 10, including a 7-1 statement win over Chicago, and a 4-3 shootout win over Washington. Chicago might not mean much, but the Capitals are one of the hottest teams in the NHL right now. Their only real hiccup was a blowout loss to Utah, where they couldn’t even find the back of the net at 7-0, but they bounced back stronger than ever.

Defensively, the Ducks have some serious concerns — especially on their PK unit. Their PK sits at just 75.3% which is good for 28th in the NHL, and they take way too many penalties at 8th-most in the league. That’s a dangerous combination against any team, but especially against Pittsburgh’s elite power play. Still, Lukas Dostal has returned to stabilize the net. He’s 11-5-1 with a .904 SV%, and his presence undoubtedly gives Anaheim a boost and a shot at taking this game.

Penguins Need More Than Crosby

To nobody’s surprise, Sidney Crosby continues to carry the Penguins. He currently leads the team with 18 goals and 12 assists. Evgeni Malkin has been productive as well with his 21 points, but he missed Sunday’s game and remains day-to-day, but depending on what happens when the lineups are released later today, his availability could swing this matchup. If he doesn’t play, we expect Kevin Hayes to center the second line.

The Penguins aren’t as flashy offensively as they have been in the past — just 3.15 GPG, which ranks right in the middle of the pack. But their strength is in keeping games tight. They’ve allowed just 2.70 GAA, good for 4th-best in the league, and Tristan Jarry is a big reason why. The Penguins are 9-2-1 when he starts, and he’s posted a strong .913 SV% with a 2.54 GAA. That places him in the upper tiers of NHL netminders.

One big area where the Pens shine is in their special team units. Pittsburgh also owns the best power play in the NHL at a staggering 33.3% and a top-5 penalty kill at 85%. Owning numbers like that on both ends of special teams is a huge advantage for any team, but it’s a tough one to rely upon. But fortunately for the Penguins, the Ducks come in 8th in the NHL with 286 PIM on the season.

This game sets up as a classic contrast in styles — high-event Ducks hockey versus the Penguins’ more structured game.

Prediction — Ducks Steal Another One in Pittsburgh

Anaheim is catching Pittsburgh at the right time. The Penguins are 5-2-3 in their last 10 but haven’t looked all that convincing over that stretch, besides an exception here or there. They’ve struggled in shootouts, going 0-4, and may be without Malkin again for tonight’s game. If that’s the case, Anaheim’s offensive depth becomes even more of a problem.

Even with the Penguins’ strong special teams, Anaheim’s 5-on-5 scoring is simply overwhelming right now. Carlsson and McTavish are on a tear, and the Ducks have scored at 4+ goals in 4 of their last 5 wins. That’s a hard train to stop. Pittsburgh will try to slow things down, but if Anaheim gets the first goal, the tempo could shift fast.

The Penguins’ ability to win depends too heavily on their top guys, and if Jarry doesn’t stand on his head, the Ducks’ scoring depth will wear them down.

• Prediction: Ducks 4, Penguins 3
• Best Bet: Anaheim Ducks Moneyline at +102

The Ducks have already beaten the Penguins once this season and are playing with even more confidence coming into tonight. Their offense is undeniably rolling, and with Dostal back, they’re a better all-around team than they were when they took the first game. Getting Anaheim at plus money is solid value in what looks like a toss-up on paper — but leans Ducks when you consider form, health, and scoring upside. Even though Pittsburgh is a solid team, we’re staying away from the puckline as we don’t think the Ducks will need that extra 1.5 goals to win this bet.