Ducks vs Blue Jackets

Cutter Gauthier and the Anaheim Ducks arrive in Columbus riding a 6-4-0 stretch over their last 10, while the Blue Jackets are mired in a 2-5-3 run that includes a five-game losing streak and mounting pressure on home ice. With current rosters confirmed, Anaheim rolls in deep and healthy up front with Leo Carlsson, Gauthier, Troy Terry and Frank Vatrano driving a 3.44 goals-per-game offense, backed by a Lukas Dostal/Ville Husso tandem, whereas Columbus leans heavily on Adam Fantilli, Dmitri Voronkov, Sean Monahan and Zach Werenski, but still averages only 2.88 goals per game and allows 3.47, despite being essentially fully healthy in skaters and relying on Jet Greaves and Elvis Merzlikins in net. The Jackets’ recent slide is compounded by a rough home-against-Anaheim history (0-2-4 in their last six at Nationwide against the Ducks and no home win over them since 2017), even though Columbus’ penalty kill has bizarrely gone 17 straight games without allowing a power-play goal to Anaheim, which slightly tempers the edge. Given Anaheim’s better current form, higher scoring rate, and Columbus’ inability to put away opponents despite being priced as a -140 favorite at most books versus a Ducks dog in the +118 range, I’m willing to back the road side on the moneyline at this price and grade it a B for a solid combination of edge and underdog value, while still respecting the volatility of a desperate home team Odds and availability are subject to change. This bet was made at 16/12/2025 09:41am

With Anaheim scoring 3.44 goals per game and allowing 3.34, and Columbus sitting at 2.88 for and 3.47 against, the underlying numbers point toward a game profile that hovers around or above 6.5 total goals, and the recent form trends reinforce that tilt: over their last 10, the Ducks are averaging 3.1 goals for and 3.2 against, while the Jackets sit at 2.7 for and 3.8 against, essentially playing to totals of about 6.9 goals per night. Both rosters are largely intact, and each side brings real offensive talent — Gauthier and Carlsson headlining Anaheim’s attack, Voronkov and Monahan pacing Columbus — but neither blue line has been consistently suppressing chances, and special teams are set up to add to the scoring with both penalty kills lagging (Anaheim at 75.0%, Columbus at 71.6%) despite the Blue Jackets’ oddly long streak of denying Ducks power plays historically. Factor in that Anaheim games have gone over the total 20 times in 32 contests and that Columbus tends to cash wins when they reach three or more goals, and the combination of leaky goaltending environments and live offensive weapons makes the Over 6.5 at -120 my lean, graded B- due to the juice and the small risk that Columbus’ recent scoring funk drags the pace down. Odds and availability are subject to change. This bet was made at 16/12/2025 09:41am

For the puckline, Anaheim +1.5 at -210 looks like the high-probability side in what profiles as a tight game between a surging underdog and a favorite that has struggled to separate, with Columbus just 16-16 against the number overall and an especially poor 4-10 mark ATS at home, while the Ducks are 18-14 overall and have been competitive in most road spots. With current rosters confirmed on both sides and no major skater injuries, Anaheim can roll four credible lines built around Gauthier, Carlsson, Mason McTavish and Terry, while Columbus counters with Fantilli, Voronkov, Monahan, Kent Johnson and Werenski, a mix that suggests scoring ability but not necessarily multi-goal dominance against a Ducks team that already owns the better record and recent form. Historically, the Jackets are 0-2-4 in their last six home games versus Anaheim, which underscores how often this matchup has stayed within one goal at Nationwide, and even with Columbus’ strong penalty-kill track record against the Ducks, the current combination of Columbus’ five-game skid and Anaheim’s ability to trade chances makes it more likely that the Jackets, if they win at all, do so by a single goal. Given the high probability of a one-goal margin either way, Ducks +1.5 (-210) earns an A- grade from me — excellent for safety and win rate, albeit with limited payout because of the heavy juice. Odds and availability are subject to change. This bet was made at 16/12/2025 09:41am