The Anaheim Ducks (0-0-0) open their 2026-27 NHL season with a visit to the Vegas Golden Knights (1-0-0) Friday contest in Las Vegas, Nevada. The opening faceoff at T-Mobile Arena will be at 10 p.m. ET (Prime Video). Let's analyze NHL odds around the Ducks vs. Golden Knights odds and make our expert NHL picks and predictions.
2025-26 season series: Ducks won 3-0; the Pacific Division foes met in a Stanley Cup Playoffs second-round series won by the Golden Knights 4-2
Anaheim went 43-33-6 last season and reached the playoffs for the first time since 2018, finishing third in the Pacific before losing to Vegas in 6 games in the second round. Ahead of the opener, the Ducks announced signing D Tristan Luneau to 6-year, $43.2 million extension; the 22-year-old
Luneau has played in just 14 NHL games.
Vegas opened the season with a 5-2 (Over 6.5) home victory over the +220 Chicago Blackhawks Tuesday. C Jack Eichel had a goal and 2 assists, as the Knights won Ryan Craig's first game as coach. Vegas led 2-0 after 1 period and 3-2 after 2 before pulling away with 2 goals in the third.
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Ducks at Golden Knights odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 12:07 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Ducks +155 (bet $100 to win $155) | Golden Knights -190 (bet $190 to win $100)
- Puck line (RL)/Against the spread (ATS): Ducks +1.5 (-150) | Golden Knights -1.5 (+125)
- Over/Under (O/U): 6.5 (O: -120 | U: +100)
Ducks at Golden Knights projected goalies
Lukas Dostal (2025-26: 30-20-4, 3.10 GAA, .888 SV%) vs. Carter Hart (2025-26: 11-3-3, 2.71 GAA, .891 SV%)
Dostal scuffled late in the 2025-26 season, and his .888 SV% marked a career-worst. The 26-year-old does have a solid career line vs. Vegas (.917 SV%) and has been a good early-season netminder over his 5-year career. In October games, he has filed an aggregate .927 SV%.
Hart went the route in Tuesday's lid-lifter vs. the Blackhawks. He yielded 2 goals while making 24 saves. The 28-year-old Alberta native has been a solid performer on home ice throughout his career; he owns a .911 SV% in such games.
Ducks at Golden Knights picks and predictions
Prediction
Golden Knights 3, Ducks 2
Moneyline
Dating back to last season, the Knights have won 5 consecutive regular-season games at home. All 5 have been by multi-goal margins.
Anaheim went 1-3-0 with a minus-11 goal differential in the preseason, and now the Ducks may battle some rest-vs.-rust in this Friday game which is 6 days after their preseason finale.
The Knights won 3 of their 4 playoff games against the Ducks by margins of 2 goals or more (they filed 2 wins with 4-goal cushions). Dostal clocked an .864 SV% in that series; Hart notched a .935 figure.
In its Tuesday conquest over Chicago, Vegas took firm control of the contest early, did well to develop a slew of high-quality looks from the slot or better, and performed well in special teams. The Knights are worthy of a deeper minus payout into this price. TAKE VEGAS (-190).
Puck line/Against the spread
No interest: PASS.
Over/Under
Both netminders have performed well in early-season games in their careers. Expect tighter play and fewer quality chances than what developed in Tuesday's Blackhawks-Knights contest.
Some time may be required for the Ducks to gel in their transition game.
The UNDER 6.5 (+100) is a lean.
Betting odds calculator
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This article originally appeared on Sportsbook Wire: Anaheim Ducks at Vegas Golden Knights odds, picks and predictions
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