Welcome back to another edition of NHL Predictions. Each day, Last Word on Hockey reviews the scheduled games and offers insight and analysis to help predict who will win in key head-to-head matchups. Today, we preview the Carolina Hurricanes vs Anaheim Ducks. Check out more NHL Predictions as the 2024-25 season continues.
NHL Predictions
Carolina Hurricanes vs Anaheim Ducks
Head to Head: Hurricanes 0 – 1 Ducks
Time: 8 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT)
TV: FDSNSO; KTTV; Victory+; ESPN+
The Hurricanes (42-23-4) head and hour down the 5 freeway from Los Angeles to face off against the Ducks (30-31-8) at the Honda Center on March 23rd. This marks the second and final meeting between the two squads this season, with the Ducks winning the first matchup in an overtime thriller. However, Carolina enters this one riding high after winning eight of their last 10, looking to continue their late-season storm surge and tighten their grip on playoff seeding. Meanwhile, the Ducks are aiming to find some late momentum of their own, hoping to play spoiler while continuing to develop their young core.
Anaheim Ducks Searching for Stability
The Ducks remain one of the league’s more unpredictable teams. They’ve managed some surprising wins this season, beating contenders like Dallas and Vancouver, but they continue to falter in must-win games. Over their last 10, Anaheim is 4-5-1, and while playoff hopes are all but mathematically dashed, there are still things to build on.
Cutter Gauthier continues to impress, notching seven points in his last six games and looking every bit the offensive catalyst Anaheim envisioned. His chemistry with Mason McTavish has been one of the few consistent bright spots in an otherwise erratic forward group. Defensively, the Ducks are still a work in progress, often leaving their goaltenders out to dry. Although, there has been some encouraging progress this season.
Expect Lukas Dostal to get the nod in net once again. He’s had a rocky March, including getting pulled early in a blowout loss to St. Louis. Still, he’s shown resilience this season and will be looking for a bounce-back effort against one of the league’s most dangerous teams. Dostal currently carries a 2.96 GAA and a .908 save percentage on the year.
Carolina Hurricanes Peaking at the Right Time
Few teams are hotter than Carolina right now. Winners of 8 of their last 10, the Hurricanes are hitting their stride with the playoffs looming. Their last 10 games have included dominant wins over Tampa Bay and Winnipeg. Their defensive structure is rock solid, and both Pyotr Kochetkov and Frederik Andersen have been stellar in net – aside from the game last night in LA.
On the offensive side, the Hurricanes are led by Sebastian Aho. Seth Jarvis was also on fire recently but left the game last night with an apparent injury after crashing hard into the boards. The Hurricanes have also gotten timely production from players like Jesperi Kotkaniemi and Stefan Noesen, showcasing their depth.
Given their back-to-back schedule (with a game against LA the night before), Carolina may rotate goaltenders. Kochetkov started and played the entire game in LA, so expect Andersen between the pipes against his former team. Either way, the Canes are well-positioned to return to the win column.
NHL Predictions
Anaheim puts up a fight early, energized by a home crowd and some physical play. Cutter Gauthier nearly breaks through on a power play, but Freddie Andersen stands tall. In the second period, Carolina’s structure begins to take over. A point blast from Brady Skjei finds twine, and the Hurricanes begin to tilt the ice. Jarvis adds a goal in the third, and a late empty-netter from Sebastian Aho seals it.
Carolina continues their tear through the West with another strong performance, while Anaheim gets a hard look at the level required to contend.
Prediction: Carolina wins 4 – 1
Prop Bets of the Night
We close out our NHL Predictions for the Carolina Hurricanes vs Anaheim Ducks with some of our preferred prop bets of the night. Look at the under at 5.5 and +102. Also, consider Cutter Gauthier anytime goal at +430. Season record: (14-26)
Main photo by: James Guillory-Imagn Images
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