Devils vs Ducks Picks, Predictions & Odds Tonight

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01 March 2024

Devils vs Ducks Picks, Predictions & Odds Tonight

With the Ducks selling off at the deadline and their defense corps taking a hit, Radko Gudas will likely get more ice time. That has our NHL betting picks looking at one of the blueliner's NHL player props vs. the Devils tonight.

Friday night on the ice concludes with the New Jersey Devils taking on the Anaheim Ducks, who were in action last night and enter as a long +235 home dog. The Devils are six points out of a playoff spot and the Ducks are selling off pieces, but can bettors trust a Devils team that has disappointed all season?

With the Ducks trading Ilya Lyubushkin yesterday and Cam Fowler exiting and not returning, defenseman Radko Gudas could see a bump in minutes, and with the Devils attempting a ton of shots per game, the burly D-man might get in front of some pucks.

I break down the NHL odds and offer my free NHL picks for Devils vs. Ducks for Friday, March 1.

Devils vs Ducks odds

Devils vs Ducks predictions

Ilya Lyubushkin was held out of the Anaheim Ducks lineup last night as he was getting traded to Toronto while Cam Fowler exiting early after taking a puck to the face. That left the Ducks very short on the blue line and Radko Gudas ended up playing over 28 minutes with an average ice time of 19 minutes on the season.

The Ducks will get more help today, but Gudas is slated for a bigger role vs. a team that ranks in the Top 5 in shot attempts per game. There is also a chance other Anaheim defensemen are late scratches with the deadline near which could balloon the time on ice for the remaining D-men.

Gudas is not the most gifted offensive rearguard but does a hell of a job blocking shots as he leads the club in blocked shots/60. At home, with more generous scorekeeping, Gudas is averaging 2.64 blocks per game, and with an Over 2.5 blocked shots paying +105, even that number is plus expected value in the Radko Gudas odds with the implied blocked shots somewhere around 2.2.

He has an elite matchup vs. the New Jersey Devils, who will shoot a ton tonight. Over February, only one other team averaged more shots per game at 5-on-5 than the Devils and with a struggling power play, New Jersey could go shot-heavy with the man advantage tonight.

There are more minutes tonight on the Anaheim blue line and Gudas’ blocked shots market is the best one to target to take advantage of.

My best bet: Radko Gudas Over 2.5 blocked shots (+105 at BetMGM)

Devils vs Ducks same-game parlay

Over 6.5

Timo Meier Over 0.5 points

Timo Meier Over 0.5 shots on goal

Frank Vatrano Over 0.5 points

Frank Vatrano Over 0.5 shots on goal

Let's put some apples into the baskets of one skater on each team, since blocked shot props are not available for SGPs. Timo Meier is playing in the Devils' best line with Nico Hischier and Jesper Bratt. He's coming off a two-point effort vs. his former team in San Jose and has jumped up to the top power-play unit that has a great matchup vs. the worst PK in hockey.

Frank Vatrano leads the Ducks in shot attempts/60 on the season and is third in points per/60. The PP1 forward has 12 points over his last 11 games, which is impressive considering the Ducks' offense is scoring just 3.09 goals per game over that time. He's also hit three or more shots in four of his last five games and has seen an increased offensive role with Troy Terry out.

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Devils vs Ducks moneyline and Over/Under analysis

The Devils opened as -250 road favorites with the Ducks on the second game of a traveling back-to-back after a 6-4 win last night in San Jose. The visitors have since moved to -275 as of 1 p.m. ET. It’s tough to back the Ducks tonight with a lot of their players on the trade block and as we saw last night, late scratches of key players are a possibility until the deadline is past.

I have no interest in betting on the Devils, though, as they have been arguably the most disappointing team in hockey this year and are still six points out of a playoff spot.

They might have a little momentum from their 7-2 win over the Sharks on Tuesday and the matchup vs. a thin Anaheim team that might not have star forward Troy Terry is an easy spot for the visitors. Ultimately, there isn’t much value on them tonight. New Jersey’s Over 3.5 team total is -180 and it will likely face goalie Lukas Dostal, who isn’t much worse than No.1 John Gibson.

If I had to back a side or total, it would be Over 6.5. Both teams are coming off 5+ goal outings vs. the Sharks and the Devils’ No. 32 power play (9%) over the last 30 days could break out vs. the Ducks’ No. 32 penalty kill over that same time (63%).

Even without Terry, the Ducks can score against the Devils. New Jersey has been one of the worst defensive and goaltending teams in hockey. Just in February alone, they allowed the third-most expected goals at 5-on-5, and the 10th-most actual goals.

It could be Nico Dawes’ net for New jersey as the rookie has started eight of the last nine games. Over that time, he is 5-3 SU with a save percentage below .900 and a GAA north of 3.00. There is a reason the Devils were rumored for a new goalie but the playoffs might not be in their future.

I can’t buy the Devils and their inconsistencies tonight but with a lack of quality defensemen for the Ducks and the Devils’ issues in net, I do like the Over 6.5 at -125 or better. New Jersey has been one of the best Over teams in hockey at 34-24-1.

Devils vs Ducks betting trend to know

The New Jersey Devils have hit the Game Total Over in 55 of their last 94 games (+12.30 Units / 11% ROI). Find more NHL betting trends for Devils vs. Ducks.

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