Anaheim Ducks vs Chicago Blackhawks Picks and Predictions March 1st 2025

Anaheim Ducks vs Chicago Blackhawks March 1st 2025

Don’t miss out on the NHL showdown between the Blackhawks and Ducks. The game is starting at 10:00 ET on ESPN+, and it’s hosted by the Ducks at Honda Center in Anaheim, CA. Get ready to place your bets! The over/under for this Western conference contest is set at 6 goals, with the Ducks being favored by -1.5 goals at home against the Blackhawks.

Chicago vs. Anaheim Key Information

• Teams: Blackhawks at Ducks
• Where: Honda Center Anaheim
• Date: Saturday, March 1st
• Betting Odds ANA -153 | CHI +129 O/U 6

The Blackhawks Can Win If…

With a 4-2 win over the Ducks, the Blackhawks improved to 17-35-7 this season. Chicago entered as underdogs on the puck line but covered with the victory. The total was set at 6.5 goals, and the combined 6 goals fell just short of that mark.

Four different players scored for the Blackhawks, who led 3-0 before the Ducks got on the board. Chicago’s defense held Anaheim scoreless until the 10:16 mark of the third period.

Chicago’s offense fired 29 shots on goal in their 4-2 win over Anaheim. Ryan Donato netted his 7th goal of the season, while Seth Jones added his 2nd. Isaak Phillips and Teuvo Teravainen also found the net, with Teravainen’s 4th goal coming on a power play.

Connor Bedard picked up three assists, bringing his season total to 9. Taylor Hall added two more assists, now with 4 this season. The Blackhawks scored twice in the first period, once in the second, and closed with another goal in the third.

Arvid Söderblom stopped 38 shots with a 95% save percentage, helping the Blackhawks secure a 4-2 win. The defense also contributed 6 takeaways and 5 hits. Both goals allowed came in the 3rd period, with the second coming at 19:56.

• Across Chicago’s last three regular season games, their record sits at 0-3. This includes going 1-2 vs. the puck line along with an over-under mark of 2-1.
• Across Chicago’s last ten regular season games, their record sits at 2-8. Their record against the puck line in this stretch is 6-4 to go along with an over-under mark of 6-3-1.

The Ducks Can Win If…

With a 4-2 loss to the Blackhawks, the Ducks fell to 26-25-7 this season. Anaheim entered the game as -1.5 goal favorites, and the total was set at 6.5 goals, but the combined 6 goals fell just short of that mark.

Anaheim’s defense struggled early, giving up two goals in the first period and another in the second before finally scoring in the third. Brock McGinn got the Ducks on the board at 10:16 in the third period, but the Blackhawks responded with another goal before Mason McTavish added a second for Anaheim with just 4 seconds left in the game.

Anaheim’s offense was held scoreless until the third period in their 4-2 loss to Chicago. Brock McGinn netted his second goal of the season, while Mason McTavish followed with his second, which came on a power play with just four seconds left in the game.

The Ducks fired 39 shots on goal but were hindered by 16 giveaways. Ryan Strome, with his fourth assist of the season, and Troy Terry, who picked up his fifth assist, contributed on McTavish’s late power-play goal.

Defensively, the Ducks gave up the first three goals and allowed a late one at 17:43 in the 3rd period. Two of those came on the power play. Lukas Dostal made 25 saves with a save percentage of 86.2%.

• Over their last three regular season games, the Ducks have gone 1-2 straight up. They have held up well vs the puck line in these matchups, going 3-0 as well as an over-under record of 2-1.
• The Ducks have gone 7-3 over their last ten regular season games. Their record against the puck line in this stretch is 9-1 to go along with an over-under mark of 4-6.

The Lean

When it comes to a moneyline wager, I’m going with the Ducks to defeat the Blackhawks while playing at home. Given the current moneyline odds at -153, I’m placing a wager on the Ducks to win outright.

When making a puck line pick, we’re backing the Ducks to win and cover. Watch for the Ducks to win this game by multiple goals over the Blackhawks.

With an over/under line sitting at 6 goals, we like this game to surpass that mark and recommend getting a bet down on the over.

Ducks Aim to Boost Playoff Chances Against Struggling Blackhawks

The Anaheim Ducks are in uncharted territory compared to recent seasons, playing meaningful games down the stretch as they chase their first playoff berth since 2018. With momentum on their side and a five-game home winning streak, they look to continue their postseason push when they host the Chicago Blackhawks on Saturday night.

Anaheim enters the game riding a red-hot 8-2-1 stretch, bringing them within striking distance of the final Western Conference wild-card spot. Their 59 points put them six behind Vancouver (65 points), which currently holds the last playoff position. Meanwhile, Calgary (64), Utah (63), and St. Louis (62) are all tightly packed in the race.

The Ducks’ latest victory—a 5-2 comeback win over the Canucks on Thursday—highlighted their resilience. After falling behind 2-0 in the first period, Anaheim responded with five unanswered goals, marking their sixth multi-goal comeback win of the season, second only to Seattle (seven).

“Everyone wants to be playing important games at this time of year,” forward Frank Vatrano said after the win. “The past few years, it sucks when you’re out of the playoffs after the All-Star break. It’s nice for the younger guys to get a taste of what it’s like in crunch time and how every point matters.”

Ryan Strome and Troy Terry each contributed a goal and two assists, while Anaheim closed out February with an impressive 5-1-1 record.

“It was a big game for us,” Strome added. “Some guys in here haven’t played a game of this magnitude in a couple of years. When you have a four-point division game and you still have hope, it’s exciting.”

The Ducks will need to maintain their intensity as they take on a Chicago team struggling to find any consistency.

Blackhawks Stumbling Toward the Finish Line

While Anaheim fights for a playoff spot, the Chicago Blackhawks are simply trying to avoid the league’s worst record.

Currently, only two points ahead of last-place San Jose, the Blackhawks limp into Saturday’s matchup on a five-game losing streak (0-4-1). Their road struggles have been even worse—Chicago has dropped six consecutive away games (0-5-1) and owns the NHL’s worst road record (6-20-4).

The Blackhawks are coming off a chaotic 7-5 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights on Thursday, a game that showcased their flaws but also some resilience.

Vegas erupted for five first-period goals, tying a franchise record for the most in a single period. Yet, Chicago clawed back into the contest, cutting the deficit to 6-5 in the third period with back-to-back goals from Ilya Mikheyev and Philipp Kurashev before Vegas put the game away late.

“It’s not easy coming back from a 5-1 deficit,” said rookie center Frank Nazar, who notched two assists. “Just to be in that game shows the resiliency that we have.”

Defenseman Connor Murphy, who finished with three assists, lamented his team’s early mistakes.

“The first period, the frustrating part, is that it was self-induced,” Murphy said. “It felt like we were the ones letting them get by us on rushes and the ones being careless with our breakouts. All we did was start playing. We didn’t do anything too magical to get our goals.”

Adding to Chicago’s struggles, rookie phenom Connor Bedard has gone four straight games without a point, the longest drought of his young career.

The Blackhawks’ inability to generate offense and defend consistently makes Saturday’s game a prime opportunity for Anaheim to continue building momentum.

Explore comprehensive NHL Conference odds and predictions to see which teams are favored this season

A Must-Win for Anaheim in the Playoff Chase

With time running out in the regular season, every game holds increased importance for the Ducks.

Their recent surge has kept them in contention, but with multiple teams fighting for the final playoff spot, Anaheim can’t afford to let winnable games slip away—especially against a struggling Blackhawks squad.

Expect the Ducks to push the pace early, using their home-ice advantage to extend their winning streak and stay firmly in the playoff conversation.