Wild vs Ducks Prediction 1/2/26 NHL Picks Today

In this article, we will formulate a Wild vs Ducks Prediction for this NHL game on Friday, January 2^nd. Let’s take a look at the prediction for this NHL matchup.

Anaheim Ducks Preview

The Ducks have 44 points this season with a 21-16-3 record, and are 21-18 ATS and 24-14 in over/under. They have a 12-7-1 home record and a 9-9-2 road record and are sitting 3rd in the Pacific Division. They are coming off a 4-3 home overtime loss to the Lightning, and their previous three games were a 5-4 home loss to the Sharks, a 6-1 road loss to the Kings, and a 3-1 home loss to the Kraken.

Offensively, the Ducks are averaging 3.33 goals per game and are scoring 17.1% of their power play opportunities. Defensively, they are allowing 3.53 goals per game and are killing 75.6% of their opponent’s power plays.

Leo Carlsson leads the Ducks with 42 points, while Cutter Gauthier leads the team in goals with 19, and Troy Terry leads the team in assists with 26. Lukas Dostal is the starting goalie for the Ducks, and he has a 13-9-2 record, with 3.15 GAA and .888 SV%. Petr Mrazek is the backup goalie and he has a 3-4 record, with 3.78 GAA and .865 SV%.

Minnesota Wild Preview

The Wild have 54 points this season with a 24-10-7 record, and are 22-18 ATS and 16-21 in over/under. They have a 13-4-5 home record and a 11-6-2 road record and are sitting 3rd in the Central Division. They are coming off a 4-3 road shootout loss to the Sharks, and their previous three games were a 5-2 road win over the Golden Knights, a 4-3 road overtime win over the Jets, and a 3-2 home overtime loss to the Predators.

Offensively, the Wild are averaging 3.07 goals per game and are scoring 22.6% of their power play opportunities. Defensively, they are allowing 2.59 goals per game and are killing 76.8% of their opponent’s power plays.

Matt Boldy leads the Wild with 47 points, also leading the team in goals with 25, while Kirill Kaprizov leads the team in assists with 24. Filip Gustavsson is the starting goalie for the Wild, and he has a 13-8-4 record, with 2.47 GAA and .912 SV%. Jesper Wallstedt is the backup goalie and he has a 11-2-3 record, with 2.21 GAA and .928 SV%.

Minnesota Wild @ Anaheim Ducks Betting Trends: January 2, 2026

Why the Anaheim Ducks will win

• The Ducks have won four of their last five games as home underdogs against Western Conference opponents.
• The Wild have lost four of their last six games as road favorites against Pacific Division opponents.
• The Ducks have covered the puck line in nine of their last 10 games as home underdogs.
• The Wild have failed to cover the puck line in nine of their last 10 games as favorites after coming off overtime.
• The Ducks have won the third period in each of their last five games against Central Division opponents when leading after the second period.

Why the Minnesota Wild will win

• The Wild have won each of their last nine road games against the Ducks.
• The Ducks have lost each of their last four games.
• The Wild have covered the puck line in nine of their last 10 road games after coming off a shootout.
• The Ducks have failed to cover the puck line in each of their last five night games.
• The Wild have won the third period in eight of their last nine road games against the Ducks.

Total Goals Facts

• Each of the Ducks’ last six games after coming off overtime have gone OVER the total goals line.
• Each of the Wild’s last four road games have gone OVER the total goals line.
• Each of the last five Friday games at Honda Center have gone OVER the total goals line.
• The ‘Over 1.5 Goals Period 2′ market has hit in each of the Ducks’ last 10 home games.
• The ‘Over 1.5 Goals Period 2’ market has hit in each of the Wild’s last seven road games.

Anaheim Ducks Player Prop Facts

• Olen Zellweger has scored a goal in three of the Ducks’ last four games as home underdogs against Western Conference opponents.
• Jackson LaCombe has recorded at least one assist in seven of the Ducks’ last eight home games against Western Conference opponents.

Minnesota Wild Player Prop Facts

• Kirill Kaprizov has scored at least one goal in four of the Wild’s last five road games against the Ducks.
• Kirill Kaprizov has recorded at least one assist in seven of the Wild’s last eight night games.

Matchup/League Facts

• The Anaheim Ducks rank 32nd in the league for goals against per game this season (3.53).
• The Anaheim Ducks rank 28th in the league in penalty kill percentage this season (75.57%).
• The Minnesota Wild rank 2nd in the league for goals against per game this season (2.59).
• The Minnesota Wild rank 32nd in the league in penalty minutes this season (274).

Wild vs Ducks Prediction

In their previous meeting earlier this season, the Wild won 2-0 at home and are 9-1 in their last 10 meetings against the Ducks. Under is 6-2 in their last 8 meetings.

In this Wild vs Ducks Prediction, the Wild are coming as -130 road favorites. The Wild have been the better team this season and are facing a struggling Ducks squad that is 2-8 in their last 10 games and have lost their last three home games. On the flip side, the Wild are 7-3 in their last 10 games and have a superior defense, allowing almost one whole goal per game less than the Ducks, so I like them as road favorites in a good price. Take the Wild on the moneyline in this one.