{"id":461953,"date":"2025-02-02T11:35:46","date_gmt":"2025-02-02T16:35:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/?p=461953"},"modified":"2025-02-02T11:35:46","modified_gmt":"2025-02-02T16:35:46","slug":"nhl-predictions-february-2-montreal-canadiens-vs-anaheim-ducks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/2025\/02\/02\/nhl-predictions-february-2-montreal-canadiens-vs-anaheim-ducks\/","title":{"rendered":"NHL Predictions: February 2 Montreal Canadiens vs Anaheim Ducks"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Welcome back to NHL Predictions. Each day,\u00a0<\/span><em><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Last Word on Hockey<\/span><\/em><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> reviews the scheduled games and offers insight and analysis to help predict who will win in head-to-head matchups. Today, we preview the game between the Montreal Canadiens and the\u00a0Anaheim Ducks. Check out more NHL Predictions as the 2024-25 season continues.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">NHL Predictions<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n<h3><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Montreal Canadiens vs Anaheim Ducks<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n<h4><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Head to Head: Canadiens 1 &#8211; 0 Ducks<\/span><\/h4>\n<p><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Time:<\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> 4:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">TV: <\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">TSN2; RDS; KTTV; Victory+; ESPN+<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The Anaheim Ducks (21-24-6) return home after a short two-game road trip to Seattle and Calgary and will host the Montreal Canadiens (24-22-5) at Honda Center in Anaheim, CA, <\/span><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">on <\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nhl.com\/gamecenter\/ana-vs-mtl\/2025\/02\/02\/2024020837\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">February 2, 2025<\/span><\/a><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">. This is the second of two meetings between these two teams. Montreal won the first matchup 3-2 in a shootout on December 9. <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/t\/terrytr01.html?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2025-02-02_hr\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Troy Terry<\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> had a solid game with two goals and just missed the hat trick when he hit the crossbar late in overtime. It was <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/t\/troubja01.html?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2025-02-02_hr\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Jacob Trouba<\/a>&#8216;s<span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> first game with the Ducks, and Patrick Laine scored one of his signature but Ovi-esque powerplay one-timer goals.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Montreal Canadiens Looking to Snap Losing Skid<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The Habs are 4-4-2 in their last 10 games and are on a 2-game losing skid. They are, however, firmly in the Eastern Conference playoff hunt and sit just outside the last wild-card spot. Scoring is proving to be an issue. In their previous two games, the Canadiens only have one goal. <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/s\/suzukni01.html?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2025-02-02_hr\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Nick Suzuki<\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> leads the team with four points in their last five games. <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/s\/stlouma01.html?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2025-02-02_hr\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Martin St. Louis<\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> will be looking to players like <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/c\/caufico01.html?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2025-02-02_hr\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Cole Caufield<\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> and Patrick Laine to step up for the team to make a playoff push. Goaltender <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/d\/dobesja01.html?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2025-02-02_hr\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Jakub Dobes<\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> has been a revelation. He is 5-1-1 in 7 games since joining the Habs with an impressive 2.10 goals against average and .927 save percentage. Look for him to start in net against Anaheim.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Anaheim Ducks Offence Needs to Keep Producing<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">After an uncharacteristic hot streak, the Ducks came crashing back to earth. In a building they always have trouble with, the Ducks&#8217; three-game win streak and a three-game streak of scoring five or more goals came to a halt in a 4-1 defeat to the Flames. The Ducks continue to prove that the only way this iteration of the team will succeed is by outscoring their terrible team defence (Let&#8217;s be clear. Defence. Not goaltending). The team is 20-0-2 when they score 3+ goals, but they average only 2.51 per game.\u00a0 If the team is going to improve that number, they will continue to rely on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/m\/mctavma01.html?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2025-02-02_hr\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Mason McTavish<\/a>&#8216;s recent surge in scoring. McTavish leads the team with six goals and seven points in the previous five games. It will take more than him, though. Players like <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/z\/zegratr01.html?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2025-02-02_hr\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Trevor Zegras<\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">, Troy Terry, and especially <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/c\/carlsle01.html?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2025-02-02_hr\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Leo Carlsson<\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> must also find their hot hands. If they do not, the burden will continue to fall on <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/d\/dostalu01.html?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2025-02-02_hr\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Lukas Dostal<\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> and <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/search\/search.fcgi?pid=gibsojo02,gibsojo01&amp;search=John+Gibson&amp;utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2025-02-02_hr\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">John Gibson<\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> to steal wins for the Ducks. Expect Dostal to get the nod. He has a 2.96 goals against average and a .908 save percentage this season.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Prediction<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">This looks like a close matchup, with Montreal and Anaheim having strengths and weaknesses that even things out. The Canadiens have a slight edge defensively, while the Ducks rely more on outscoring their issues. Given both teams &#8216; scoring trends, a 3-3 game after regulation is a reasonable outcome. Montreal&#8217;s Jakub Dobes has been solid on the net, while Mason McTavish has been leading Anaheim&#8217;s offense. This one goes to a shootout, where Montreal has a slight advantage, with Laine, Suzuki, and Caufield giving them a bit more finishing ability. The Ducks drop their first game after scoring three or more goals.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><em><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Prediction: Canadiens win 4 \u2013 3 in a shootout.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<h3><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Prop Bets of the Night<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">We close out our NHL Predictions for the Montreal Canadiens vs Anaheim Ducks with some of our preferred prop bets of the night.\u00a0 Keep an eye on Leo Carlsson anytime goal (+430), who has not scored in the last six games. He&#8217;s due. Odds courtesy of FanDuel. Record this season (6-12).<\/span><\/p>\n<p><em><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Note: Always check the latest team news and player statuses before placing any bets, as injuries and other factors can influence game outcomes.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>Main Photo: David Kirouac- Imagn Images<\/em><\/p>\n<p><strong><em><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Please play responsibly. Check for your local rules and age restrictions. Some jurisdictions require ages 21+. Have a gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER<\/span><\/em><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Welcome back to NHL Predictions. Each day,\u00a0Last Word on Hockey reviews the scheduled games and offers insight and analysis to help predict who will win in head-to-head matchups. Today, we preview the game between the Montreal Canadiens and the\u00a0Anaheim Ducks. Check out more NHL Predictions as the 2024-25 season continues. NHL Predictions Montreal Canadiens vs [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5399,"featured_media":461987,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[4524,20,7,4548],"tags":[3805,8068,123,7589,3430,6752,949,3806],"class_list":["post-461953","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nhl-predictions","category-ducks","category-canadiens","category-nhl","tag-cole-caufield","tag-jakub-dobes","tag-john-gibson","tag-leo-carlsson","tag-lukas-dostal","tag-mason-mctavish","tag-nick-suzuki","tag-trevor-zegras"],"modified_by":"Andrew Willis","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/461953","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5399"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=461953"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/461953\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":461988,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/461953\/revisions\/461988"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/461987"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=461953"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=461953"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=461953"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}