Welcome to another edition of NHL Predictions. Each day, our writers here at Last Word On Hockey look at the slate of games and give in depth analysis. Our team breaks down the key matchups, storylines, and stats, then makes predictions based on how they might play out. This edition features a critical Western Conference matchup as the Winnipeg Jets visit the Anaheim Ducks at Honda Center. With the Ducks fighting for Stanley Cup Playoff positioning, every point carries weight down the stretch. Don\u2019t forget to check out more NHL Predictions as we continue tracking the 2025\u201326 race.<\/p>\n
NHL Predictions: Winnipeg Jets vs Anaheim Ducks<\/p>\n
2025\u201326 Season Series: Anaheim leads 1\u20130<\/p>\n
Time: 10:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST) | 7:00 p.m. PST<\/p>\n
How to Watch<\/a> \u2013 US TV: Victory+, ESPN+ | Canada TV: TSN3, TVAS, TVAS+<\/p>\n Location: Honda Center, Anaheim<\/p>\n Setting the Stage<\/p>\n Winnipeg enters at 23\u201326\u20138, while Anaheim sits at 31\u201323\u20133 and firmly in the playoff mix. Importantly, the Ducks are riding a 10\u20132\u20130 stretch and just earned Joel Quenneville<\/a> his 1,000th NHL win in a 6\u20135 comeback victory over Edmonton<\/a>. Leo Carlsson<\/a> returned from a Morel-Lavall\u00e9e lesion<\/a> in his left thigh with a goal and two assists, immediately stabilizing Anaheim\u2019s top six.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, the Jets remain in a tighter postseason position, with playoff projections shifting sharply depending on regulation results. Winnipeg\u2019s structure contrasts sharply with Anaheim\u2019s volatile identity. This matchup likely regresses toward control rather than chaos.<\/p>\n Winnipeg Jets Storyline<\/p>\n Winnipeg\u2019s identity centres on defensive structure and goaltending. The Jets allow 3.07 goals against per game and rank stronger in five-on-five suppression metrics than Anaheim. Furthermore, their finishing efficiency and overall defensive ranking provide a stable baseline in tighter games.<\/p>\n However, offensive consistency remains an issue. The Jets average just 2.84 goals per game and rely heavily on Mark Scheifele<\/a> and Kyle Connor<\/a> to generate controlled zone entries. If Connor Hellebuyck<\/a> starts, Winnipeg\u2019s defensive ceiling rises considerably. If Eric Comrie<\/a> gets the nod, that margin narrows.<\/p>\n Discipline also matters. Winnipeg\u2019s penalty kill operates at 79.2 percent, while their power play sits in the middle tier. In a likely lower-event contest, special teams could decide the outcome.<\/p>\n Power play goal for Winnipeg!Scored by Kyle Connor with 13:53 remaining in the 1st period.Assisted by Gabriel Vilardi and Mark Scheifele.Winnipeg: 1Montreal: 0#MTLvsWPG #GoJetsGo #GoHabsGo<\/p>\n \u2014 NHL Goals (@nhlgoals.bsky.social)<\/a> 2026-02-05T00:30:59.698558Z<\/a><\/p>\n Anaheim Ducks Storyline<\/p>\n Anaheim\u2019s recent surge has been driven by opportunistic scoring and resilience. The Ducks win over Edmonton on Wednesday was their eighth multi-goal comeback victory, and they have now won six straight at home. Moreover, Lukas Dostal<\/a> is 9\u20131\u20130 in his past 10 starts, providing consistency behind a defence that ranks 31st in five-on-five goals allowed.<\/p>\n Carlsson\u2019s return adds needed puck possession support, while Cutter Gauthier<\/a> and Troy Terry<\/a> continue to generate rush offence. Nevertheless, the Ducks allow volume and quality against structured opponents. Against a disciplined Winnipeg team, defensive zone coverage will be tested.<\/p>\n If Anaheim dictates pace and limits neutral zone turnovers, they can tilt the ice. If not, Winnipeg\u2019s structure compresses space quickly.<\/p>\n Power play goal for Anaheim!Scored by Cutter Gauthier with 15:28 remaining in the 2nd period.Assisted by Jackson LaCombe and Beckett Sennecke.Anaheim: 3Vegas: 0#VGKvsANA #FlyTogether #VegasBorn<\/p>\n \u2014 NHL Goals (@nhlgoals.bsky.social)<\/a> 2026-02-02T03:53:00.653943Z<\/a><\/p>\n The Model<\/p>\n The blended model simulates this matchup 10,000 times using weighted inputs from the in-house model on top of some other notable prediction models. The in-house model factors in five on five expected goal differential, special teams impact, projected goaltending, and rest adjusted context and give Anaheim a 55 percent chance to win. MoneyPuck <\/a>projects Anaheim at 54.8 percent, while HockeyStats<\/a> places the Ducks at 54 percent with a 3.1 to 2.9 projected goal split.<\/p>\n After removing market vig from the \u2212130 line and blending internal metrics, Anaheim lands between 54 and 55 percent. Fair odds project near \u2212120 to \u2212125. The market remains efficient, offering limited moneyline edge.<\/p>\n NHL Prediction<\/p>\n