Anaheim’s biggest problem heading into Thursday’s visit to New Jersey is easy to spot: four straight losses, with exactly two goals scored in each. The more interesting question is whether this matchup offers a way out. Our projections suggest the Ducks can keep up with the Devils in shooting volume, while both expected goalies have struggled across their last five appearances. That makes New Jersey’s favorite status understandable without making this a straightforward matchup.
Anaheim needs more than another close finish
The Ducks lost 3-2 to the Islanders on Tuesday, allowing all three New York goals in the first period before making it a one-goal game late. Anaheim has been outscored 16-8 during its four-game losing streak. There’s a clear difference between staying within reach and generating enough scoring to finish the job.
Our grades still give Anaheim’s attack a B, ahead of New Jersey’s C+. That’s a useful counterweight to the recent results: we see more attacking potential than the Ducks have shown during this skid. The obstacle is a Devils team we grade B defensively, compared with Anaheim’s D+.
DraftKings’ moneyline prices put New Jersey at -198 and Anaheim at +164. The Devils’ stronger defensive assessment supports their position as favorites, but our shot projections don’t suggest a lopsided workload: roughly 30 shots for Anaheim and 31 for New Jersey. That gives the Ducks a plausible route to staying competitive through shooting volume, though it doesn’t mean their chances will be equally dangerous.
New Jersey also brings the better latest result, having beaten Colorado 4-3 on Tuesday. Jake Allen made 31 saves, and the Devils held on after taking a 4-1 third-period lead. It was a win with a strong individual contribution in net, rather than a quiet night for their goalie.
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The 6.5-goal total has competing signals
Anaheim’s scoring drought matters at a total of 6.5. Six of its nine games this season have finished Under their posted totals, while five of New Jersey’s nine have gone Over. Those results point in different directions, and the expected goalie matchup adds another reason not to follow Anaheim’s recent low-scoring pattern automatically.
The expected starters, Lukas Dostal and Jake Allen, have save percentages of .862 and .877, respectively, across their five most recent appearances this season. Allen’s latest outing was better, stopping 31 of 34 shots against Colorado, but neither five-game stretch offers much reassurance for a low-scoring forecast. With both teams projected around 30 shots, each goalie could face a meaningful workload.
New Jersey’s defensive advantage is the clearest support for its favorite status against an Anaheim attack stuck at two goals a night. The Ducks’ competitive shooting outlook makes improved finishing a credible route out of the slump, but Allen’s Tuesday performance shows why that rebound isn’t automatic. At 6.5, the important distinction is between an Anaheim offense that has struggled to score and goalies whose recent save rates leave room for a more open game. The losing streak alone doesn’t settle either market.
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