Arizona Coyotes vs. Anaheim Ducks Betting Pick: Can the Ducks Stay Hot At Home?
The Anaheim Ducks host the Arizona Coyotes in a late-night puck drop out west. Can Trevor Zegras and the Ducks stay hot on offense and collect another victory? Ben Rajavuori breaks down the West coast battle with his Coyotes vs. Ducks betting pick.
Ben Rajavuori - November 1, 2023, 4:59 PM EDT
5 minArizona Coyotes vs. Anaheim Ducks Prediction: Can the Ducks Stay Hot At Home?
Last year, a game between the Ducks and Coyotes would be considered the worst matchup you could possibly come up with. However, with a few off-season changes, the Ducks are 5-4 and the Coyotes are 4-4. Both teams have started off the 2023-2024 season on great notes, and somehow the Coyotes are actually -130 favorites tonight. The Ducks are coming off a four-game road trip where they went 4-0. The Coyotes are coming off an 8-1 blowout win against the Blackhawks. Which team continues to surprise and win tonight?
Coyotes vs. Ducks Date, Time, and Where to Watch
- Date: November 1, 2023
- Time: 10:00 p.m. ET
- Where to Watch: ESPN+
Arizona Coyotes vs. Anaheim Ducks Prediction
The Ducks hired a new coach this off-season, and Greg Cronin is already making an impact. The Ducks have looked rejuvenated on both offense and defense, as his message has been very clear to the Ducks: shoot the puck on net as much as possible and go for rebounds. It's a simple message, but it has been effective. The Ducks rank 14th with 3.2 goals per game, which doesn't sound amazing, but it is a massive improvement from the team's numbers last season.
Also, Lukas Dostal has been a nice surprise in net for Anaheim. The 23-year-old is in his third year in the NHL, and this is looking like it could be his best so far early on. Dostal is 4-2 with a 2.79 goals allowed average and has a 92.1% save rate this season. He has been going back and forth with John Gibson in net, but with Gibson out with an injury, it will be Dostal until further notice. This is looking like it could be his breakout season in net, which is excellent news for a Ducks team that could be on the up this year with a new-look offense.
The Coyotes have also been a surprise this season, starting 4-4, as Karel Vejmelka continues to impress. Vejmelka was a lone bright spot for the team last year, and while he has a mediocre 2-3 record early this year, he has just 2.51 goals allowed per game and a 92.6% save rate. His win-loss will improve as the season goes on, but the Coyotes' struggles on the road may not improve.
I'm having a hard time believing Arizona should be favored over anyone on the road yet. Don't forget that Arizona had a historically bad season on the road last year, posting a 7-34 road record, which was the worst in the NHL by far. The Coyotes played much better at home, which has already proven true again this season.
The Coyotes are 2-3 on the road this season with wins over the Blues and Devils. On the other side, the Ducks have barely gotten to play at all at home. Over their first nine games, the Ducks have only had three games at home. They are 1-2 in those games but to very tough teams. The Ducks' three home games have been against the Bruins, Stars, and Hurricanes - three of the best teams in the league. They also beat the Canes and had two close losses against the Bruins and Stars. I'm not sold on the Coyotes being a road juggernaut enough that they should be favored here, so I will happily take plus money on the Ducks to win at home, as they have looked much better this season with Dostal and their new coach.
Arizona Coyotes vs. Anaheim Ducks Pick
2 Unit Pick: Anaheim Ducks ML +110 Click here to see which sportsbook has the best odds
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