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Vegas Golden Knights vs Anaheim Ducks Picks and Predictions – Sunday February 1, 2026
Vegas closes the weekend with a Pacific Division matchup in Anaheim, and the market is basically calling this a coin flip. The Golden Knights are 25-15-14 under Bruce Cassidy and still sitting on top of the division, while the Ducks are 28-23-3 with Joel Quenneville trying to keep them in the race for seeding and momentum.
This one is at the Honda Center with a late puck drop (9:30 PM ET) on ESPN. The total is hung at 6.5, which tells you the books are expecting chances, but the side price is tight enough that injuries and the confirmed goalie matters more than usual.
Vegas Golden Knights vs Anaheim Ducks Odds
These are the current betting lines, and bettors should keep tracking the latest NHL odds as goalie news and late money can move a short price quickly.
| Team | Moneyline | Puck Line | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vegas Golden Knights | -122 | -1.5 (+199) | O 6.5 (-117) |
| Anaheim Ducks | +104 | +1.5 (-251) | U 6.5 (-105) |
Vegas Golden Knights Betting Form
Vegas is coming off a 5-4 loss to Dallas, and the way it happened matters. They scored enough to win, but the defensive details weren’t there consistently, and that’s not the profile you want when you’re laying any kind of road price. The larger form is still solid, but this team has been living in high-variance games lately, which makes them tougher to trust at a short number.
The injuries are also shaping how I look at their ceiling. If they’re missing multiple centers and key blue-line pieces, that affects puck support in the neutral zone and how clean their exits look when they’re under pressure. Vegas can still score, but they become more dependent on finishing and special teams when the 5v5 structure is thinner.
For a deeper dive into form and game logs, use Golden Knights stats and results. Before you lock a wager, review the linked Vegas Golden Knights injury report because their lineup availability is a real driver of volatility.
Anaheim Ducks Betting Form
Anaheim is coming off a 2-0 loss to Vancouver where they generated volume (33 shots) but didn’t finish. That’s been the story in some of their tougher matchups: they can get pucks through, but they don’t always convert enough of the good looks, and then one mistake flips the game. The upside is the shot profile, because it usually gives you a path to win if the bounces and finishing normalize.
At home, the Ducks’ best angle is pace control and physicality. They can make games uncomfortable by leaning on forecheck pressure, forcing defenders into hurried decisions, and turning it into a net-front contest. Against a Vegas team that might be short-handed, that’s not a bad script, especially if Anaheim can draw penalties and create special teams volume.
For recent performance and splits, go to Ducks schedule and stats. Also check the linked Anaheim Ducks injury report, because Anaheim’s center depth and goalie availability can swing the total and the underdog case.
Vegas Golden Knights vs Anaheim Ducks Matchup Breakdown
At 5v5, this comes down to who controls the middle of the ice. Vegas is most dangerous when they enter with speed and layers, then force defenders into chasing coverage switches. Anaheim wants to slow that down, finish checks, and keep Vegas from stringing together clean possessions. If the Ducks can win the neutral zone and turn this into dump-and-change hockey, they’ll keep the game close.
Special teams should matter, especially with a 6.5 total. Vegas has enough skill to punish penalties, but their own penalty kill can get stressed if they’re missing regular rotation defenders. Anaheim’s path is drawing power plays and getting traffic at the crease, because that’s where you can beat a good structure without needing perfect finishing from the circles.
The goalie angle is important here, and I’m not treating it as confirmed until warmups. If Vegas is forced into a less stable crease situation, that pushes me away from a clean road favorite and makes Anaheim’s moneyline more attractive. If Anaheim’s goalie situation is compromised, it’s the opposite: the over becomes more live, and the Ducks need an above-average finishing night to stay with Vegas.
Vegas Golden Knights vs Anaheim Ducks Predictions and Best Bets
The market is telling you this is tight, and I agree with that read. Vegas has the higher-end talent and more ways to score, but the injury list makes them harder to trust as a “better team, auto bet” on the road. Anaheim’s shot volume and home setting give them a legitimate chance to grind this into a one-goal game, and that’s where the plus money starts to matter.
For the total, 6.5 is a big number, and you need a specific script to clear it. If the game is clean at 5v5 and the refs swallow the whistle, 6.5 can be a tough climb unless there’s a clear goalie mismatch or an early special teams swing. If you’re leaning over, you’re basically betting on chaos, penalties, and at least one team finishing at a high clip.
I prefer playing the side here rather than trying to thread the needle on 6.5. With the price where it is, Anaheim doesn’t need to dominate. They just need to keep the game structured, win enough of the forecheck battles, and let the plus money do the work.
Best Bet: Anaheim Ducks moneyline (+104)
NHL Picks and Handicappers on ScoresAndStats
If you’re building a nightly card, it helps to compare your positions to the broader market and sharper projections on the NHL picks page, then keep tabs on situational spots through the NHL previews hub.
For bettors who track verified performance, the best handicappers section and the live leaderboard are the quickest way to see who’s actually beating the number over time. If you want packaged plays, you can also buy picks, and tighten up your process with the NHL betting guide plus the broader futures and postseason framework in the Stanley Cup betting guide.
