Updated April 3, 2026, 5:57 p.m. ET

The St. Louis Blues (31-31-12) visit the Anaheim Ducks (41-29-5) Friday. Puck drop from Honda Center in Anaheim, California, is set for 10 p.m. ET. Let’s analyze NHL odds around the Blues vs. Ducks odds and make our expert NHL picks and predictions.

Season series: Tied 1-1 with each team winning in the other’s building. The Blues won 4-0 as +132 road dogs March 8 after the Ducks won 4-1 as +125 docs in St. Louis on Dec. 1. The Under was 6.5 in both games and cashed twice.

The Blues have dropped 2 straight, the latest a 2-1 overtime loss to the host LA Kings on Wednesday as +122 underdogs with the Under 5.5 hitting. C Robert Thomas had the lone goal, his 17th tally of the season. The Blues are 11-3-3 since the Olympic break and sit 5 points behind San Jose for the final wild-card spot in the Western Conference with 8 games to go.

The Ducks were up 3-2 with less than 2 minutes to go before losing 4-3 as +122 underdogs in San Jose on Wednesday. Winger Troy Terry scored his 18th goal of the season as the Over (6.5) cashed. It was Anaheim’s third straight loss, but the Ducks remain tied atop the Pacific Division with 7 games to go. They are still missing LW Cutter Gauthier and his 38 goals due to an upper-body injury.

Watch the NHL on Fubo!Blues at Ducks odds

Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 5:30 p.m. ET.

Moneyline (ML): Blues +118 (bet $100 to win $118) | Ducks -140 (bet $140 to win $100)Puck line (PL)/Against the spread (ATS): Blues +1.5 (-220) | Ducks-1.5 (+180)Over/Under (O/U): 6 (O: -118 | U: -102)Blues at Ducks projected goalies

Joel Hofer (19-12-5, 2.59 GAA, .909 SV%, 6 SO) vs. Lukas Dostal (29-17-3, 3.03 GAA, .892 SV%, 0 SO)

Hofer was hit for 5 goals on 29 shots in a 5-4 loss to San Jose on Monday. Three of them came on the power play, though. He has been unreal since the Olympics, going 6-1-2 with a 1.73 GAA and .945 SV% in 9 March starts. He has faced Anaheim twice this season. The first meeting on Dec. 1, when Hofer was inserted into the game after Jordan Binnington was pulled. Hofer played 48 minutes and stopped 19 of 20 in a 4-1 loss. He shut Anaheim out March 8, stopping all 22 shots.

Dostal allowed 4 goals on 21 shots in the loss to San Jose on Wednesday. He has allowed 3+ goals in 8 of 11 starts since the start of March. He hasn’t faced St. Louis this season and went 0-3-0 with a 6.63 GAA and .754 SV% in 3 starts against the Blues last season.

Blues at Ducks picks and predictionsPrediction

Blues 3, Ducks 2

This is basically a pick ’em, despite Anaheim being favored. The Ducks are struggling and really don’t have to play desperate hockey to stay in the fold. The Blues, however, probably need to go 7-1-0 or 7-0-1 the rest of the way to have a shot at the postseason. Blues coach Jim Montgomery said 4 players would be replaced in the lineup, but there was no morning skate Friday to determine who that was.

The question is if RW Jordan Kyrou is one of them. He scored 31+ goals in each of the previous 3 seasons but has just 17 in what has been a nightmare of a campaign for him.

My guess is he stays and maybe gets put on the top line to get him going. In any event, I like the BLUES (+118).

There is no play here.

PASS.

The Blues are 1-8-1 O/U in their last 10 while the Ducks are 4-5-1. The Ducks have scored 3 goals or fewer in 5 of their last 10 and the Blues have allowed 3 or more just twice in 10.

Go UNDER 6 (-102).

For more sports betting picks and tips, check out SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW.

Follow @rdodsonsports on Twitter/X. Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter/X and like us on Facebook.

Our team of savvy editors independently handpicks all recommendations. If you purchase through our links, the USA TODAY Network may earn a commission. Prices were accurate at the time of publication but may change.

Gambling involves risk. Please only gamble with funds that you can comfortably afford to lose.  While we do our utmost to offer good advice and information we cannot be held responsible for any loss that may be incurred as a result of gambling.  We do our best to make sure all the information that we provide on this site is correct. However, from time to time mistakes will be made and we will not be held liable. Please check any stats or information if you are unsure how accurate they are. No guarantees are made with regards to results or financial gain. All forms of betting carry financial risk and it is up to the individual to make bets with or without the assistance of information provided on this site and we cannot be held responsible for any loss that may be incurred as a result of following the betting tips provided on this site.  Past performances do not guarantee success in the future and betting odds fluctuate from one minute to the next. The material contained on this site is intended to inform, entertain and educate the reader and in no way represents an inducement to gamble legally or illegally or any sort of professional advice.

Gannett may earn revenue from sports betting operators for audience referrals to betting services. Sports betting operators have no influence over nor are any such revenues in any way dependent on or linked to the newsrooms or news coverage. Terms apply, see operator site for Terms and Conditions. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, help is available. Call the National Council on Problem Gambling 24/7 at 1-800-GAMBLER (NJ, OH), 1-800-522-4700 (CO), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN). Must be 21 or older to gamble. Sports betting and gambling are not legal in all locations. Be sure to comply with laws applicable where you reside. It is your sole responsibility to act in accordance with your local laws.