Welcome back to another edition of NHL Predictions. Each day, our writers here at Last Word on Hockey look at the 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 the Anaheim Ducks taking on the Florida Panthers. Don’t forget to check out more NHL Predictions, as our writers continue this series throughout the 2025–26 season.
NHL Predictions: Anaheim Ducks vs Florida Panthers
2025–26 Season Series: First meeting this season (2024-2025 season: Ducks 0 – 2 Panthers)
Time: 7:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time (EDT); 4:00 PM Pacific Daylight Time (PDT)
U.S. TV: Victory+; KCOP-13; SCRIPPS; ESPN+
Canada TV: Sportsnet
Setting the Stage
The Anaheim Ducks (4-3-1) arrive in Sunrise after a 4–3 loss to Tampa Bay that was frustrating only because it proved they can now hang with elite teams, and still occasionally hand them free points. Their comeback push, featuring two goals in 59 seconds, spoke to how Joel Quenneville’s young roster refuses to fold. Meanwhile, the Florida Panthers (5-5-0) finally rediscovered their structure, shutting out the Golden Knights 3–0 behind Sergei Bobrovsky’s 50th career shutout. After five losses in six, that performance looked like a deep exhale. Tuesday offers a contrast of form: Anaheim chasing validation, Florida seeking confirmation that Saturday wasn’t a one-off.
Anaheim Ducks’ Storyline
Anaheim’s 5-on-5 offence has quietly been top-ten by expected goals (xGF: 7th) thanks to the Gauthier-McTavish-Sennecke line generating quality from controlled entries. Troy Terry’s four-game point streak gives Quenneville a consistent finisher, though the Ducks’ defence still vacillates between promising and panic. Lukas Dostal is projected to start again and continues to face one of the heaviest high-danger workloads in the league. Without Radko Gudas, Anaheim’s slot protection has been patchy, and Mikael Granlund’s injury further thins the middle six. Still, the Ducks create enough chaos to be dangerous, sometimes even to themselves.
Anaheim goal!Scored by Troy Terry with 11:50 remaining in the 3rd period.Assisted by Cutter Gauthier and Leo Carlsson.Tampa Bay: 3Anaheim: 3#ANAvsTBL #GoBolts #FlyTogether
— NHL Goals (@nhlgoals.bsky.social) 2025-10-25T23:38:44.428809Z
Florida Panthers’ Storyline
Florida’s recent results have resembled a lie-detector test (up, down, and occasionally shocking), but the underlying data never lied. They rank top-six in 5v5 expected goals and control nearly 63 percent of high-danger chances. The Reinhart-Rodrigues-Verhaeghe trio has been excellent territorially (xG: 79%), and Bobrovsky’s rebound control returned just in time. Defensively, Florida’s pairings of Forsling-Ekblad and Mikkola-Jones have steadied after an erratic fortnight. If the Panthers simply finish near their expected rate, they should climb back above .500 before Halloween.
Florida goal!Scored by Sam Reinhart with 02:41 remaining in the 1st period.Assisted by Carter Verhaeghe and Evan Rodrigues.Florida: 1Vegas: 0#VGKvsFLA #TimeToHunt #VegasBorn
— NHL Goals (@nhlgoals.bsky.social) 2025-10-25T22:54:08.562806Z
The Model
Our blended model simulates this matchup 10,000 times, combining four independent sources: our in-house model, MoneyPuck, the betting market (vig removed), and Advanced Hockey Stats. Each source is equally weighted, producing a balanced probability view. The results are recalculated after every game using updated team strength metrics.
NHL Prediction
Across the simulations, Florida wins 59.8% of outcomes (fair odds ~ –150), while Anaheim settles at 40.2% (+149). Florida’s superior shot-quality profile and home-ice puck control drive that edge, though Anaheim’s pace keeps it interesting longer than expected. In other words, it’s Florida’s game to lose, and Anaheim’s to make chaotic as they have so often already this season.
Prediction: Panthers win 4–2 (59.8% win probability)
2025–26 Season Prediction Record: 2–2
Prop Bets of the Night
We close out our NHL Prediction with a trio of correlated plays that point toward one simple theme: scoring. The model leans heavily toward offensive volume from both sides, which makes the Panthers team total over 3.5 (−110) the natural anchor. Florida ranks sixth in expected goals at five-on-five, while Anaheim’s penalty kill sits in the league’s bottom third, a pairing that often leads to fireworks. The companion play is the Ducks to Score 1+ power play goal (+105), a value spot given Anaheim’s xGF and the amount of good looks they get on the powerplay. They are bound to raise their powerplay percentage to above 20 percent. The third leg, Over 5.5 (−135), completes the equation. Across simulations, the combined goal average lands at 6.2, suggesting a track meet rather than a chess match. Both teams bring talent, structure, and the occasional defensive adventure, which tends to make the over feel less like optimism and more like a math equation.
2025–26 Season Betting Record: 4–5 (–1.08 units)
Main Photo: Gary A. Vasquez
Please play responsibly, check for your local rules and age restrictions; some jurisdictions require ages 21+. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER.
The post NHL Prediction: October 28th Anaheim Ducks vs Florida Panthers appeared first on Last Word On Hockey.