The Honda Center will be the site for a divisional showdown as the Anaheim Ducks take on the visiting Arizona Coyotes. The puck drops at 4 p.m. ET on Sunday, December 31, and you can witness the game live on Fox Sports Arizona.
Arizona Coyotes vs. Anaheim Ducks Odds
Anaheim (-205) is currently the favorite over Arizona (+175), and the oddsmakers have set the Over/Under (O/U) at 6 goals. The odds for betting the total stand at -120 for the under and +100 for the over.
Anaheim is 17-22 straight up (SU) and has lost 3.0 units for moneyline bettors this year. That early-season winning percentage is a noticeable slide from what the team managed during the 2016-17 season (46-36). Out of its 39 regular season matches, 25 of them have gone under the total, while 13 have gone over and just one has pushed. The team is 9-11 SU at home this season.
The Ducks have converted on 17.3 percent of their power play chances this year, a figure that’s right around league average. On the other hand, their penalty kill is ranked eighth overall, and they’ve successfully killed off 83.2 percent of all penalties.
As a collective unit, the Ducks have been penalized 4.5 times per game overall this season, and 3.4 per game over their last five contests home outings. The teams had to stave off opposition power plays for just 6.4 minutes per game over their last 10 outings, overall.
Averaging 30.3 saves per game with a .922 save percentage, John Gibson (12-18-5) has been the best goalkeeper for the Ducks this year. If the Ducks decide to rest him, however, head coach Randy Carlyle could go with Ryan Miller (4-6-6 record, .928 save percentage, 2.23 goals against average).
The Ducks will continue seeking offensive production via Rickard Rakell and Adam Henrique. Rakell (27 points) has tallied 12 goals and 15 assists and has recorded multiple points in six different games this year. Henrique has eight goals and 14 assists to his name and has recorded at least one point in 17 contests.
On the other bench, Arizona is 9-31 straight up (SU) and has lost 19.7 units for bettors taking the moneyline this year. A total of 22 of its contests have gone under the total, while 17 have gone over and just one has pushed. As the road team so far, the Coyotes are 5-17 SU.
The Coyotes have converted on just 14.7 percent of their power play opportunities this season, a mark that’s ranked 28th in the NHL. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked 21st overall and it’s successfully defended 80.2 percent of all penalties.
Arizona’s players have been penalized only 3.3 times per game in total this season, and 2.2 per game over their last five road outings. The teams had to kill penalties just 4.4 minutes per game over their last five road outings.
Antti Raanta (25.2 saves per game) has been the primary option in the net for Arizona. Raanta owns a 5-14-2 record, and has registered a .916 save percentage and 2.80 goals against average this year.
Clayton Keller (13 goals, 18 assists) will pace the offensive counter for the visiting Coyotes.
Arizona Coyotes at Anaheim Ducks Betting Predictions
Predictions: SU Winner – Ducks, O/U – Over
Betting Notes
- Seven of Arizona’s last ten games have been decided by two goals or more. The team is 1-6 in those games.
- Power plays and penalty kills could play a key role in this game. The Coyotes are 5-16 when they serve fewer penalty minutes than their opponent and 7-23 in games where they’re in the penalty box for fewer than 10 minutes, total. The Ducks are 3-7 when they serve fewer penalty minutes than the opposition and 9-11 in games where their penalty minutes are in the single digits.
- Anaheim (2-4 in shootouts) has more experience this season in games decided by shootout. Arizona has only participated in two shootouts this year, winning one and losing the other.
- The under has hit in four of Anaheim’s last five outings.
- Anaheim has averaged 14.0 giveaways over its last five home games, a rise over its season average of 10.3 giveaways per game (ranked 22nd overall).
- Arizona is ranked ninth this season with 8.0 giveaways per game. That figure has trended down, however, as the teams averaged 6.7 giveaways over its last 10 games and 5.4 giveaways over its last five.
- This game features two of the more aggressive defenses in the league. Arizona skaters have dished out the leagues fourth-most hits per game (23.9) and the Ducks have handed the ninth-most (23.2).
