The Utah Mammoth (12-12-3) and Anaheim Ducks (16-9-1) tussle in a Wednesday affair in Southern California. The opening faceoff from the Honda Center in Anaheim, California, will be at 10 p.m. ET (TNT). Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s NHL odds around the Mammoth vs. Ducks odds and make our expert NHL picks and predictions.
Season series: Anaheim leads 1-0 with 3-2 OT win at home Nov. 17
Utah is playing game No. 4 of a 6-game road stretch. Game 3 of the trip was Monday at the San Jose Sharks and the -174 Mammoth lost to the Sharks 6-3 (Over 5.5). They are thus far 0-3-0 on the voyage and are 0-6-2 on the road since Nov. 5.
The Ducks are back at home after a 2-game road swing. They lost 5-3 at the Chicago Blackhawks Sunday and bounced back with a 4-1 (Under 6.5) conquest at the -149 St. Louis Blues Monday.
Mammoth at Ducks odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Tuesday at 10:44 p.m. ET.
Moneyline (ML): Mammoth -110 (bet $110 to win $100) | Ducks -110 (bet $110 to win $100)Puck line (PL)/Against the spread (ATS): Mammoth +1.5 (-250) | Ducks -1.5 (+200)Over/Under (O/U): 6.5 (O: -115 | U: -105)Mammoth at Ducks projected goalies
Karel Vejmelka (10-7-2, 2.87 GAA, .882 SV%) vs. Ville Husso (2-1-0, 2.70 GAA, .880 SV%)
Vejmelka was pulled 13 minutes — and 3 San Jose goals — into Monday’s game vs. the Sharks. He got off to a solid start this season, but has struggled since late-October. He’s 2-2-2 with a 3.08 GAA in 6 career starts vs. Anaheim.
Husso was recalled from AHL San Diego on Nov. 26. He has filed 2 starts and 1 relief appearance since. In his last game, the 30-year-old stopped 21-of-22 Monday at St. Louis. He lost his only start vs. Utah, 3-2 last March 12.
Mammoth at Ducks picks and predictionsPrediction
Mammoth 4, Ducks 3
Utah is 10-6-1 on 1-day rest.
The Mammoth are 2-5-3 over their last 10 games, but 6 of those 8 losses have been in 1-goal affairs. Over that stretch, Utah has been much better in 5-on-5 play than what shows in the results. A low shooting percentage is the primary culprit, but a scuffling power play (8% last 10 games) has not helped.
Anaheim has been weak on the penalty kill (75.6%, 27th NHL), and the Ducks’ 5-on-5 output-vs.-expected figures don’t pass muster. They give up a ton of high-danger looks, and their overall defense can be expected to see its 3.23 goalds-per-game average tick upward.
The Mammoth are the value side here. TAKE UTAH (-110).
No interest; PASS.
The Over is 4-1 across Anaheim’s last 5 games.
The hidden value in the scoring profiles for these clubs is tilted toward more goals for the Utah offense and more allowed by the Ducks defense. The likely goaltending matchup plays into a high total as well.
TAKE THE OVER 6.5 (-115).
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