NHL Predictions: April 7th Edmonton Oilers vs Anaheim Ducks

Welcome back to another edition of NHL Predictions. Each day, Last Word on Hockey reviews the scheduled games and offers insight and analysis to help predict who will win in key head-to-head matchups. Today, we preview the Edmonton Oilers vs Anaheim Ducks. Check out more NHL Predictions as the 2024–25 season continues.

NHL Predictions

Edmonton Oilers vs Anaheim Ducks

Head to Head: Oilers 1 – 2 Ducks

Time: 10:30 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT)

TV: SNW; Victory+; KCOP-13; ESPN+

The Anaheim Ducks (33-35-8) return home to host the Edmonton Oilers (44-27-5) at the Honda Center on April 7th. This marks the fourth and final meeting between these Pacific Division rivals this season, with Anaheim leading the series 2–1. Both teams are looking to rebound from recent losses but are competing for very different things at this point in the season. Edmonton is playing for home ice in the first round in what will all but certainly be the fourth year in a row they play the Kings in the first round. The Ducks aren’t playing for much and would probably be better off increasing their lottery odds at this point. The storyline here is a tale of two offenses. To put things in perspective, the Ducks’ leading scorer is Troy Terry with 53 points. Edmonton’s leading score is Leon Draisaitl with 106 points, double Anaheim’s top scorer.

Edmonton Oilers Battling Adversity

The Oilers dropped a critical divisional matchup on April 5th, falling 3–0 to the Los Angeles Kings. That loss was a four standing point swing against their hopes of home ice in the first round. The Oilers are now two games behind the Kings for second in the Pacific Division.

They were without both Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl due to injury, and it showed. The loss snapped a three-game winning streak and served as a reminder of how heavily Edmonton leans on its superstar duo. Neither is likely to return for this game, but there may be a silver lining here. If both are ready for the last couple of regular season games, or even by game one of the first round, this could be a welcome rest period for two players who carried their team to game seven of the Stanley Cup Final last summer. While injuries are never a good thing, in this case, they may lead to a fresher McDavid and Draisaitl come the games that matter.

In their absence, the spotlight shifts to Edmonton’s depth. Zach Hyman, who’s been a consistent goal-scorer most of the year after a slow start.  Veterans like Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Evander Kane will need to generate offence as well.

On the backend, the Oilers have tightened things up significantly since midseason. Goaltender Calvin Pickard has provided strong play in relief of Stuart Skinner, and the team is doing a better job clearing the crease and limiting high-danger chances. Still, with playoff seeding on the line, Edmonton can’t afford to drop points to a team playing for nothing.

Anaheim Ducks Trying to Avoid Embarrassment

The Ducks are coming off a humbling 6–2 loss to the Vancouver Canucks on April 5th, a game that was effectively over after a disastrous five-goal first period. Oh, and those five goals were scored in the span of four minutes and thirty seconds. The loss highlights Anaheim’s struggles to maintain defensive structure against quick-strike teams and reinforces a troubling trend: their inability to recover from early deficits. It also has people asking if the “Roxy Flu” is still a thing around the league.

Despite that, Anaheim’s young core continues to develop. Trevor Zegras remains a dynamic presence, and Mason McTavish has been showcasing his playmaking ability with increased confidence. Leo Carlsson continues to flash elite potential. The team’s challenge lies in stringing together full 60-minute efforts, especially against playoff-caliber opponents.

Goaltender Lukas Dostal has seen increased action as John Gibson seems perpetually injured. Dostal is the Ducks’ future in net. He stopped 20 of 26 shots against Vancouver but was left out to dry multiple times by blown coverages. If the Ducks can tighten things up defensively and stay out of the box, they’ve proven they can hang with top teams—as evidenced by two wins over Edmonton already this season.

NHL Predictions

Anaheim will look to use home ice and their recent success against Edmonton to their advantage. The Ducks’ youthful energy could create mismatches against a banged-up Oilers lineup, especially if McDavid and Draisaitl remain out. However, the Oilers are still a deeper, more experienced team, and with a playoff berth clinched, they’ll want to get back on track before the real games begin.

Prediction: Oilers win 4–2

Prop Bets of the Night

We close out our NHL Predictions for the Edmonton Oilers vs Anaheim Ducks with some of our preferred prop bets of the night. Last game, the anytime goal scorer hit a couple of minutes into the game. Then, the under lost before the first period was over. Those are the highs and lows of sports betting. Take a look at Evan Bouchard anytime goal (+390). Also, consider the Edmonton puckline (+160). This game may be close, but an Edmonton empty-netter is all it would take. Season record: (20-32).

Main Photo Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images

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