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Golden Knights vs. Ducks prediction: Why Vegas is favored to win Friday's NHL matchup [5/8/2026]
Updated: | First published:
Written by Jason Bevilacqua, Head of Content and Communities
Get Vegas Golden Knights vs Anaheim Ducks predictions for NHL Friday.
The Anaheim Ducks and Vegas Golden Knights will lock horns in the NHL Playoffs at Honda Center on Friday, starting at 9:30 PM ET.
Based on the latest simulations, Dimers' advanced NHL model gives the Golden Knights a slight edge with a 52% win probability over the Ducks.
This article offers a closer look at Friday's Golden Knights vs. Ducks matchup, including projected goal scorers, best bets and player prop picks.
Golden Knights vs. Ducks prediction: Who will win and cover?
Using trusted machine learning and data, we have simulated the outcome of Friday's NHL Playoffs game between the Golden Knights and Ducks, forming part of our NHL predictions coverage.
Our leading predictive model currently gives the Golden Knights a 52% chance of defeating the Ducks.
According to our model, the Ducks (+1.5) have a 69% chance of covering the puck line, while the over/under total of 6.5 goals has a 53% chance of staying under.
Golden Knights vs. Ducks odds
We have sourced the best NHL odds in America for this game, which are listed here:
| Bet Type | Golden Knights | Ducks |
|---|---|---|
| Puck Line | -1.5 (+215) | +1.5 (-250) |
| Moneyline | -118 | -102 |
| Total | o6.5 (+102) | u6.5 (-118) |
All odds are correct at the time of publication and are subject to change.
Golden Knights vs. Ducks picks and best bet
After matching our probabilities against the best current odds, we can reveal our picks for each of the major markets. Plus, find our best bet for the game below:
| Bet Type | Pick | Bet Now |
|---|---|---|
| Puck Line | Golden Knights -1.5 | +215 |
| Moneyline | Golden Knights | -118 |
| Total | Under 6.5 | -118 |
According to our best NHL bets, the top play to make on this game is Under 6.5 total goals.
These picks are based on our probabilities matched against the implied probabilities from the sportsbook odds.
Golden Knights vs. Ducks player props
Who will score a goal in Golden Knights vs. Ducks?
According to our model, Pavel Dorofeyev is most likely to score an anytime goal in Golden Knights vs. Ducks.
Our projections give Dorofeyev a 35.0% chance of scoring a goal at Honda Center, while the star is a 7.3% chance of netting the first goal the game.
Anytime goal scorer predictions
Vegas Golden Knights
| Player | Anytime Goal Probability |
|---|---|
| Pavel Dorofeyev | 35.0% |
| Jack Eichel | 33.0% |
| Mitch Marner | 29.7% |
| Mark Stone | 27.8% |
| Brett Howden | 26.4% |
Anaheim Ducks
| Player | Anytime Goal Probability |
|---|---|
| Leo Carlsson | 30.9% |
| Cutter Gauthier | 29.9% |
| Troy Terry | 24.7% |
| Alex Killorn | 24.0% |
| Mikael Granlund | 22.4% |
First goal scorer predictions
Vegas Golden Knights
| Player | First Goal Probability |
|---|---|
| Pavel Dorofeyev | 7.3% |
| Jack Eichel | 6.9% |
| Mitch Marner | 5.7% |
| Mark Stone | 5.1% |
| Brett Howden | 4.6% |
Anaheim Ducks
| Player | First Goal Probability |
|---|---|
| Leo Carlsson | 6.0% |
| Cutter Gauthier | 5.9% |
| Alex Killorn | 4.5% |
| Troy Terry | 4.1% |
| Mikael Granlund | 3.7% |
Golden Knights vs. Ducks game-day updates and essential details
Friday's matchup between the Ducks and Golden Knights in the NHL Playoffs is scheduled to start at 9:30 PM ET.
- Who: Vegas Golden Knights vs. Anaheim Ducks
- Date: Friday, May 8, 2026
- Time: 9:30 PM ET/6:30PM PT
- Venue: Honda Center
The Stanley Cup Playoffs (aka NHL Playoffs) is the NHL's postseason elimination tournament to determine the winner of the Stanley Cup.
A total of 16 teams, including the Golden Knights and Ducks, made the 2026 NHL Playoffs, which consists of four rounds: the First Round, Second Round, Conference Finals and Stanley Cup Finals.
Each round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs is played as a best-of-seven series, with the first team to four wins moving on to the next round until a champion is crowned.
Conclusion
We predict the Golden Knights, with a 52% win probability, will likely beat the Ducks in Friday's NHL matchup.
Additional tools and information for betting safely can be found in our Responsible Gambling hub.
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Jason Bevilacqua, an expert in MLB, NHL, NBA, MLS, and NFL, delivers game previews, best bets, and props. Since 2020, as Head of Social and Community at Dimers, he has contributed insightful articles utilizing data-driven models and simulations.
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