Check out a prediction and top betting pick for Game 2 between the Anaheim Ducks and Vegas Golden Knights in round two of the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs.<\/p>\n
In the first clash between the Ducks<\/a> and Golden Knights<\/a> in the Western Conference Semifinal, NHL fans were treated to a surprisingly low-scoring matchup. Vegas eventually took a 3-1 win over Anaheim in Game 1, but there wasn\u2019t a goal scored until the second period and one of the winners\u2019 potted shots came on an empty net. With some positives to glean from that game for both sides, they head into Wednesday\u2019s Game 2 as the Stanley Cup Playoff action continues at 9:30 p.m.<\/p>\n Here\u2019s a Ducks vs. Golden Knights Game 2 prediction and pick for tonight\u2019s NHL Playoffs action on DraftKings Sportsbook.<\/p>\n Ducks vs. Golden Knights Game 2 prediction, preview<\/p>\n Game 1 of this series played out in somewhat predictable fashion. The Ducks continued to dominate shots on goal with 34 pucks put on the net to just 22 for their opponent, which makes sense given their high-volume attack. While they didn\u2019t hit on any of their four power-play opportunities, one can argue the loss was due more to excellent play from Golden Knights netminder Carter Hart with 33 saves rather than Vegas\u2019 own play. What\u2019s particularly interesting is that Anaheim also outhit the other side 37 to 26, which comes as a surprise given the reputation of the opposition.<\/p>\n Could the Ducks have won this if Lukas Dostal had played a better game? Certainly, especially as they limited Vegas to only six high-danger chances in 5v5 play, though giving up five on two power-play opportunities was a weak point. The netminder simply let his blue line down by allowing both of the goals to come at even strength on those chances. Still, Anaheim generated 12 high-danger chances of their own in 5v5 situations and netted a goal from them as well. Again, there are positives to glean here, especially since Hart has been up-and-down all season and throughout the Stanley Cup Playoffs as well.<\/p>\n That\u2019ll likely be the key tonight. The Ducks have put a ton of shots on goal throughout the entire campaign and haven\u2019t slowed down on the rush in the postseason either. The strategy to win is simply pressuring Hart until he cracks \u2014 he likely will at some point given his .891 SV% and 2.71 GAA in the regular season \u2014 and hope that Dostal can hold up his end of the bargain. With Vegas\u2019 defense a much better unit and that offense similarly formidable, volume is going to be the name of the game if Anaheim is to overwhelm a far more experienced opponent.<\/p>\n Ducks vs. Golden Knights Game 2 pick, best bet<\/p>\n DraftKings Sportsbook lists the Golden Knights as -166 home favorites on the Moneyline tonight, while the Ducks come in with +140 odds on the road. The game total sits at 6.5 combined goals.<\/p>\n Betting splits show 61% of straight bets on Vegas to win, 64% of wagers on Anaheim to cover the +1.5 puck line, and 55% on the total\u2019s over.<\/p>\n We cashed a 60 minute line pick on the Golden Knights in Game 1, and while I\u2019m tempted to take them again tonight, I actually don\u2019t think I will. I feel pretty strongly that the Ducks\u2019 offense will begin to get comfortable in this one, especially after getting higher-quality shots and generally just taking way more attempts in the opener. Like I wrote earlier, Hart isn\u2019t going to log 30+ saves every time out because he\u2019s just not that caliber of goalie. Now, Dostal\u2019s performance may prove problematic as well since he\u2019s at an .878 SV% this postseason, but Anaheim did well to keep possession and limit chances for Vegas in Game 1. If the underdogs can pull that off again to an extent, some more of their own shots should slip through. With that said though, I\u2019m actually targeting under 6.5 on the total since I anticipate something like a 4-2 final in either direction tonight on three goals and an empty-netter for the eventual winner. I\u2019d much rather do that than pick a victor since this should be a fairly close one.<\/p>\n