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 Anaheim Ducks vs Boston Bruins. Check out more NHL Predictions as the 2024-25 season continues.
NHL Predictions
Anaheim Ducks vs Boston Bruins
Time: 7:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST)
TV: KTTV; Victory+; NESN; ESPN+
NHL predictions returns after the Four Nations tournament concluded Thursday with Canada defeating the United States 3 – 2 in O.T. The same ice that saw Connor McDavid score the tournament-winning goal will see the Ducks (24-24-6) take on the Bruins (27-24-6) – TD Garden in Boston on February 22. This is the first of two meetings between the interconference teams which don’t have much on-ice history.
The ties mostly come from some significant trades. A couple of seasons ago, a trade saw the Ducks ship Hampus Lindholm up to Boston. Both teams are looking to make a push down the stretch as they are currently sitting outside the playoff picture looking in. The Bruins are just a point back from the last wild-card spot. This has surprised many given their high expectations entering this season and rapidly closing contending window. The Ducks are considerably further back and will need to string together a lot of wins in a row to even have a sniff at a playoff spot.
Boston Bruins Need a Turnaround to Stay in the Playoff Hunt
The Bruins need some bounces to start going their way to make the playoffs. Just the opposite happened during the Four Nations tournament. Bruins fans loved watching Charlie McAvoy shut down and rock McDavid with his patented huge hits and probably began thinking that the tournament could be just what McAvoy needed to turn his season around. The whiplash effect of hearing that he may be done for the season due to an infection in his shoulder cannot be understated. This is also why teams may be hesitant to allow their players to play in these mid-season tournaments; not that the teams ultimately have much say. Fortunately, the other 3/4 of the Bruins who played in the tournament are returning healthy. Brad Marchand, Jeremy Swayman (who never took off his suit and tie), and Elias Lindholm represented the Bs in the tournament.
The Bruins are only 5-5 in their last 10 games and will look to Marchand and Lindholm to provide more support to leading scorer David Pastrnak (68 pts). Pastrnak also leads the team in scoring over the previous five games with four goals and eight points. Swayman should be fresh after not seeing the ice for Team USA at the Four Nations. Expect him to start this one. Swayman has an uninspiring 2.98 goals against average and .898 save percentage this season. There is certainly a rumble or two around Boston if Don Sweeney made the right decision on which goalie to keep between Swayman and Ullmark; the jury is still out on that one.
Anaheim Ducks Face an Uphill Battle for a Playoff Push
Incredibly, the Ducks won their third game this season when scoring less than three goals when they beat the Los Angeles Kings, 2 -1, in a shootout on February 8. That was also the second game in a row the Ducks won scoring less than three goals. Trevor Zegras scored in the shootout and now leads the NHL in shootout shooting percentage (min. >10 attempts) with 13 out of 20 (65%). The Ducks other shootout star is turning out to be Leo Carlsson. He is three for five in his career (60%) and has scored some beauties. He was the Ducks’ only representative at the Four Nations, playing for his home country Sweden. Unsurprisingly, the youngest player in the tournament (20 years old) only played in one game.
The Ducks are nine points and four and a half games out of a playoff spot. The Ducks can’t look past Boston and Buffalo, but the game against the Canucks on Thursday could be a huge one. It may be hard to find someone who appreciated the break more than the Ducks goalies. The Ducks will be led by Boston-local and former Jr Bruin Frank Vatrano who has three goals and four points in his five previous games. He also played college hockey for UMass Amherst. Expect him to have a big game with family and friends in attendance. John Gibson and Lukas Dostal have carried Anaheim for most of the season. Expect Dostal to get the nod against Boston. Dostal is the Ducks’ number one. Anaheim will also be trying to keep Gibson healthy as trade bait. Gibson has a 2.69 goals against average and a .915 save percentage this season.
Prediction
The Bruins return home looking to snap out of their pre-break inconsistency. They’ll need Pastrnak to stay hot if they want to take care of business against Anaheim. Expect the Czech forward to strike early with a power-play goal, but the Ducks will respond with an inspired Vatrano burying one in front of family and friends. Both teams will rely on their goalies in what should be a tight-checking, low-scoring affair.
In the third, Marchand capitalizes on a Ducks turnover, giving Boston a late lead. However, Mason McTavish continues his strong form by forcing overtime with a slick backhander in the dying seconds. In OT, Troy Terry buries the winner on a shot from the left circle.
Prediction: Ducks win 3 – 2 (in overtime).
Prop Bets of the Night
We close out our NHL Predictions for the Ducks vs Bruins with some of our preferred prop bets of the night. Take a look at Vatrano (+240) anytime goals. Odds courtesy of FanDuel. Record this season (6-17).
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 by: Jason Parkhurst-Imagn Images
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