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 Anaheim Ducks vs Dallas Stars. Check out more NHL Predictions as the 2024-25 season continues.
Time: 8 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT)
TV: SN; Victory+; MNMT; KCOP-13; ESPN+
The Anaheim Ducks (29-31-7) will travel to Big D and take on the Dallas Stars (42-21-3) at American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas on March 17th. This is the third and final meeting between the two teams this season. Surprisingly, the Ducks won both previous games, 4 – 2 and 2 – 1 respectively. There is a bit of distance between the two teams in the standings, which makes the previous results between these two so shocking. Upon closer inspection, there is a trend of the Ducks playing well and even defeating the top teams in the league, but they struggle against lower-end teams and the teams they are fighting for playoff spots with. Heading into this one, the Stars aim to extend their seven-game home winning streak and strengthen their hold on a top playoff spot. Anaheim will look to rebound from recent struggles and keep their slim postseason hopes alive.
Numbers can be a great storyteller. Over their last 10 games, the Ducks played teams they are “competing” for wildcard playoff spots with 5 times. They went 1-4 in those 5 games. At this time of year, that is not how you climb up into a playoff spot. MoneyPuck agrees. The Ducks have higher odds of receiving the 1st overall pick than making the playoffs now. Inconsistency has plagued this team all year, and now they will almost certainly have a long offseason to address it. The silver lining is the Ducks youth starting to put up points. Cutter Gauthier is a point-per-game player over his last five games and his line is showing some chemistry. Chemistry is another thing that has been missing from the Ducks roster since 2018. A win for the franchise would be building momentum and chemistry heading into the most important offseason in five years. The pressure will be on to end the perpetual rebuild and open the contending window again.
Lukas Dostal didn’t make it through the entire game against St. Louis on Sunday when the Ducks lost 7-2. Still, expect him to start against Dallas in what is hopefully a bounce-back game. Dostal is posting a 2.94 goals-against average and a .908 save percentage this season.
The Stars have been playing like a team with serious Stanley Cup aspirations. In their last 10 games, they’ve faced six playoff-caliber opponents and managed to secure points in five of those contests. At this stage of the season, that’s exactly how you lock in home-ice advantage and set yourself up for a deep run. The analytics back it up—Dallas is virtually a lock for the postseason. Depth and structure have been their calling cards all year, with a balanced attack and steady defense keeping them among the league’s elite. Just as important, their top players are rounding into form. Jason Robertson has been piling up points with four goals in his last five games, and the power play has come alive when they need it most. This may be thanks to huge deadline acquisition Mikko Rantanen. More than anything, the Stars want to stay sharp and keep their momentum rolling as the playoffs approach, knowing this could be their best shot at a championship in years.
The Stars will want a fresh and rested Jake Oettinger for the playoffs, so this may be an opportunity to give him some rest, especially with a game against Tampa Bay on March 20th. Expect Casey DeSmith to start this one. He has a 2.42 goals-against average and a .914 save percentage this season.
The Ducks hit the ice with desperation, hoping to snap their skid, but Dallas quickly establishes control with their relentless forecheck. Matt Duchene capitalizes on a turnover to open the scoring, while Casey DeSmith keeps Anaheim off the board with key early saves. Mason McTavish injects life into the Ducks with a second-period goal, but Wyatt Johnston responds moments later, finishing off a slick passing play to restore the Stars’ lead. With Anaheim pressing late, Thomas Harley steps up defensively, shutting down rushes and blocking key shots to preserve the advantage. Dallas skates away with a win, solidifying their playoff positioning while the Ducks edge closer to elimination.
Prediction: Dallas wins 3 – 1
We close out our NHL Prediction for the Anaheim Ducks vs Dallas Stars with some of our preferred prop bets of the night. Take a look at Wyatt Johnston’s anytime goal line at +195. Also, consider Mason McTavish anytime goal at +340. Season record (12-25).
Note: Always check the latest team news and player statuses before placing any bets, as injuries and other factors can influence game outcomes.
Main photo by: Jessica Alcheh-Imagn Images
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