Golden Knights vs Ducks

Vegas comes into Anaheim on a four-game losing streak, while the Ducks have dropped two straight after a brief surge, so this matchup is more about which side stabilizes first than pure momentum. The injury report tilts toward the Golden Knights: Anaheim is missing Leo Carlsson and Frank Vatrano, still has Petr Mrazek on injured reserve, and is managing Troy Terry and Mason McTavish through upper-body issues, whereas Vegas’ current list is limited to depth centers Brett Howden IR and Colton Sissons out. Even though the Ducks are 2-0 against Vegas this season with a pair of 4-3 overtime wins driven by big nights from Carlsson, Cutter Gauthier and Terry, Jack Eichel and Tomas Hertl have produced well in those meetings and remain the focal point of Vegas’ attack. Over the longer sample, Vegas owns the more trustworthy profile: 3.30 goals for and 3.07 against per game with a 25.6% power play and 81.0% penalty kill, compared to Anaheim’s 3.17 GF, 3.52 GA, 17.8% PP and 77.8% PK, and the Knights are tied atop the Pacific with 64 points while the Ducks sit five back at 59 in a crowded playoff race. With Eichel, Mark Stone and Hertl all active and driving a top‑five power play against a depleted Ducks forward group, I see enough edge to lay -120 with Vegas, grading this Moneyline as an A- because the win probability looks a bit higher than the implied mid‑50s without requiring heavy juice. Odds and availability are subject to change. This bet was made at 01/02/2026 09:24

Even with Vegas mired in a four-game skid and Anaheim on a two-game slide, most of their recent losses have been high-event affairs, and both prior meetings this season landed 4-3 in overtime, clearing this 6.5 goal total. espn.com Anaheim’s defensive profile 3.52 goals against per game, 31st in the league against a Knights offense averaging 3.30 goals and featuring a 25.6% power play is a clear recipe for chances, especially with Vegas still rolling out Eichel, Stone and Hertl on the top unit. espn.com The Ducks are banged up up front—Carlsson and Vatrano are out and Terry and McTavish are just working back—but they still lean on Gauthier and a deep supporting cast, and their last week included a 7-4 loss to Edmonton and a 4-3 OT win over Calgary that showcased their ability to trade chances when games open up. espn.com With both teams fighting for Pacific playoff positioning, coaches are likely to ride their top six forwards and first power-play units heavy minutes, which typically pushes scoring rather than suppressing it in third periods. Given those factors, I like Over 6.5 at -125 enough to grade it a B: the matchup points to seven or more goals a bit more often than the line implies, but Anaheim’s injury uncertainty keeps it short of elite value. Odds and availability are subject to change. This bet was made at 01/02/2026 09:24

The combination of recent form and matchup history makes Anaheim +1.5 on the puckline attractive, even with Vegas trying to snap its four-game slide. The Ducks have already beaten the Knights twice this season, both by a single goal in overtime, with Leo Carlsson, Cutter Gauthier, Troy Terry, Jacob Trouba and Lukas Dostal all playing key roles in tightly contested, one-goal games. Vegas, meanwhile, has 14 overtime losses on the board and a long track record this season of playing one‑goal coin flips, even when they have the better underlying numbers and star power. Anaheim’s injury list is ugly—Carlsson, Vatrano and Mrazek out, with Terry and McTavish working back—but they still ice a competitive roster built around Gauthier, Terry, McTavish and a deep defense led by Trouba and Jackson LaCombe, and they are 15-8-1 at home, where crowd and matchup control help them keep games close. With the Ducks sitting just five points behind Vegas in the Pacific playoff race and desperate to bank any points they can, I expect another playoff-style, one-goal game more often than not, so I’m willing to lay -225 on Anaheim +1.5 but only grade it a B- because the price is steep relative to the edge. Odds and availability are subject to change. This bet was made at 01/02/2026 09:24