The Honda Center will play host to an enticing showdown as the Anaheim Ducks prepare to face the visiting Florida Panthers. It’s the last time that these two clubs will go at it in the regular season. The game gets going at 9 p.m. ET on Sunday, March 17, and fans at home can see this East-West matchup live on Fox Sports West.
Florida Panthers at Anaheim Ducks Odds
Anaheim (-105) is playing the role of underdog to Florida (-115) and the Over/Under (O/U) has been set at 6 goals. The odds for betting the total sit at -110 for the over and -110 on the under.
Florida is 32-39 straight up (SU) and has lost 14.0 units for moneyline bettors this year. 38 of its matches have gone over the total, while 25 have gone under and just seven have pushed. The Panthers are 14-21 SU on the road in 2018-19.
Florida enters the match up with the third-best power-play unit in the NHL, as it’s scored on 26.9 percent of its extra-man chances this year. Its penalty kill is ranked 13th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 81.0 percent of its penalties.
For the team as a whole, Florida has been penalized just 3.4 times per game during the 2018-19 season, 3.4 per game over its last five total, and 2.8 per game over its last five road outings. The team has had to defend opponent power plays just 6.6 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
With a .897 save percentage and 24.7 saves per game, Roberto Luongo (15-22-5) has been the primary option in goal for Florida this season. If Florida decides to rest him, however, the team might turn to James Reimer (14-21-6 record, .902 save percentage, 3.02 goals against average).
Aleksander Barkov and Jonathan Huberdeau will both spearhead the attack for the visiting Panthers. Barkov (81 points) is up to 30 goals and 51 assists, and has recorded multiple points 22 times. Huberdeau has 23 goals and 53 assists to his nameand has notched at least one point in 40 games.
Over on the other bench, Anaheim is 29-44 straight up (SU) and has lost 11.4 units for moneyline bettors this year. Through 73 regular season outings, 43 of its games have gone under the total, while 26 have gone over and just four have pushed. It’s 15-21 SU at home this year.
Anaheim has converted on just 16.1 percent of its power play opportunities this year, a figure that places it in the bottom 10 overall among NHL teams. Its penalty kill is also ranked 25th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 78.9 percent of all penalties.
Anaheim players have been called for penalties 3.8 times per game this season, and 5.4 per game over their last five at home. The team has been forced to defend opponent power plays 11.2 minutes per contest over their last five home games.
John Gibson (28.9 saves per game) has been the primary option in goal for Anaheim. Gibson has 22 wins, 30 losses, and eight OT losses to his credit and has registered a pedestrian 2.88 goals against average and a .916 save percentage this year.
Ryan Getzlaf (13 goals, 31 assists) will lead the attack for the Ducks.
Florida Panthers at Anaheim Ducks Free Picks
Free NHL Tip: SU Winner – Panthers, O/U – Over
Betting Notes
- Two of Florida’s last ten games have been decided by a shootout. The team is 0-2 in those games and 3-6 overall in shootouts this season.
- For both of these teams, the over has hit in three of their last five outings.
- The Panthers have averaged the league’s fifth-most shots on goal (33.2) while Anaheim has attempted the 31st-most (just 27.8).
- 41.4 percent of Anaheim’s wins have come by two or more goals (the team is 12-28 overall in such games) while 56.3 percent of Florida’s wins have come by two goals or more (18-16 overall in games decided by at least two goals).
- The Ducks this season have registered the 10th-most hits per game in the NHL (23.2), but the club has averaged 26.4 over their past five games as the home team.
