by Chuck Sommers
Monday, Feb 20, 2023
Time: 1 p.m. ET
Venue: FLA Live Arena, Sunrise, FL
Where to watch: BSFL, BSSC, NHLN, SN
Opening Odds at USA Sportsbooks
DraftKings: Panthers -410, Ducks +330
FanDuel: Panthers -420, Ducks +320
BetMGM: Panthers -400, Ducks +310
Caesars: Panthers -435, Ducks +330
Season record
Ducks: 17-33-6
Panthers: 28-25-6
The All-Star break is over, the second half of the NHL season can officially begin, and we're bound for what should be a very exciting second half of the hockey season. Basketball and hockey are about to rule the roost in the sports betting world once the Super Bowl is done with, and we should all be very excited for what's to come. When the trade deadline hits and players switch teams, you know things are about to get hectic over these final 30 games or so. One way you can stay tuned with the action is following what our champion handicappers are doing in the world of the NHL. Look at ASA, Inc., reeling in a $6,750 profit off a 17-9-0 run. Al McMordie is also doing well on the ice with a 13-5-0 run and a net profit of $6,050. Scott Rickenbach has also been hanging strong with a lot of betting action, in what's been an unusual year, with a 24-18-0 run and reeling in $5,950. You know this action is going to be great now that games are back and a busy second half if on the horizon. All you need to do is head to our BEST BETS page at bigal.com to find out all of what we're trying to tell you. Make sure you're locked in at bigal.com and go to our Best Bets page to find out what our champion handicappers have to say in the world of the NHL!
Ducks - Panthers preview, prediction and analysis
The Anaheim Ducks will be playing the Florida Panthers on Monday, February 20 in Sunrise, Florida.
The Anaheim Ducks lost against the Los Angeles Kings last Friday, February 17 at Honda Center in Anaheim, California with a score of 6-3. The Anaheim Ducks currently rank 8th in the Pacific Division.
Frank Vatrano had a goal and an assist, Kevin Shattenkirk and Mason McTavish each scored, and John Gibson made 35 saves for the Ducks (17-33-6), who lost their fourth straight. Anaheim has been outscored 26-11 during the skid.
"Another game where we shot ourselves in the foot," Gibson said.
Blake Lizotte gave Los Angeles a 1-0 lead at 14:33 of the first period on the 10th shot, deflecting in a point shot from Alex Iafallo. Anaheim was outshot 14-5 in the opening period and has been outshot 70-21 in the first period of the past four games. Shattenkirk tied it 1-1 at 5:52 of the second period on a point shot.
"In the first, they had us down in our [defensive] zone and we weathered it a bit," Vatrano said. "Then we had our push."
The Kings scored two more times before McTavish cut it to 3-2 at 2:28 of the third period when he scored on a one-timer from the right circle with the man-advantage. Anze Kopitar made it 4-2 at 9:44 with a power-play goal on a one-timer before Vatrano cut it to 4-3 at 13:10, scoring on his own rebound.
Viktor Arvidsson's second goal made it 5-3 at 15:30, the Kings' third on the power play on their fourth man-advantage.
"They took the momentum back with the power-play goals," Gibson said.
Kevin Fiala scored into an empty net with 1:13 left for the 6-3 final.
"I thought our guys played hard," Ducks coach Dallas Eakins said. "They competed hard. It certainly wasn't a three-goal game."
The Anaheim Ducks have won four of their last 10 games.
The Florida Panthers lost against the Nashville Predators last Saturday, February 18 at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee with a score of 7-3. The Florida Panthers currently rank 4th in the Atlantic Division.
Sam Reinhart, Matthew Tkachuk and Nick Cousins scored for the Panthers (28-25-6), who have lost three of their past five games (2-3-0). Sergei Bobrovsky was pulled during the second period after he allowed four goals on 11 shots. Spencer Knight made 12 saves in relief.
"We've put ourselves in a position where every single night we have to get points," Tkachuk said. "We have to get wins. We have to win way more than the majority of our games to get in (the Stanley Cup Playoffs). We're in a position now where every game is pretty much a playoff game for us to get in."
Tommy Novak gave the Predators a 1-0 lead at 2:36 of the first period after he won a puck battle in the corner and fired a wrist shot over Bobrovsky's left shoulder. Cousins tied it 1-1 at 7:55 in his 500th NHL game. He beat a screened Lankinen five-hole from the slot. Tkachuk gave the Panthers a 2-1 lead at 12:09, redirecting Brandon Montour's cross-ice pass.
After Colton Sissons gave Nashville a 4-2 lead on a breakaway at 7:40 of the second period, Florida coach Paul Maurice pulled Bobrovsky.
"I got [Bobrovsky] out of there because I didn't think it was going to be goaltending deciding the game," Maurice said. "For us, he's played a lot of hockey. It's an awful lot for him, so give him a little bit of rest and give Spencer some work."
After Nashville scored two more goals, Reinhart cut it to 6-3 with a power-play goal at 9:48, but Yakov Trenin scored an empty-net goal at 14:14 for the 7-3 final.
The Florida Panthers have won five of their last 10 games.
Prediction
The Panthers' leaky goaltending has been less than ideal, but they should dominate against the Ducks. Panthers 5, Ducks 2
The Anaheim Ducks lost against the Los Angeles Kings last Friday, February 17 at Honda Center in Anaheim, California with a score of 6-3. The Anaheim Ducks currently rank 8th in the Pacific Division.
Frank Vatrano had a goal and an assist, Kevin Shattenkirk and Mason McTavish each scored, and John Gibson made 35 saves for the Ducks (17-33-6), who lost their fourth straight. Anaheim has been outscored 26-11 during the skid.
"Another game where we shot ourselves in the foot," Gibson said.
Blake Lizotte gave Los Angeles a 1-0 lead at 14:33 of the first period on the 10th shot, deflecting in a point shot from Alex Iafallo. Anaheim was outshot 14-5 in the opening period and has been outshot 70-21 in the first period of the past four games. Shattenkirk tied it 1-1 at 5:52 of the second period on a point shot.
"In the first, they had us down in our [defensive] zone and we weathered it a bit," Vatrano said. "Then we had our push."
The Kings scored two more times before McTavish cut it to 3-2 at 2:28 of the third period when he scored on a one-timer from the right circle with the man-advantage. Anze Kopitar made it 4-2 at 9:44 with a power-play goal on a one-timer before Vatrano cut it to 4-3 at 13:10, scoring on his own rebound.
Viktor Arvidsson's second goal made it 5-3 at 15:30, the Kings' third on the power play on their fourth man-advantage.
"They took the momentum back with the power-play goals," Gibson said.
Kevin Fiala scored into an empty net with 1:13 left for the 6-3 final.
"I thought our guys played hard," Ducks coach Dallas Eakins said. "They competed hard. It certainly wasn't a three-goal game."
The Anaheim Ducks have won four of their last 10 games.
The Florida Panthers lost against the Nashville Predators last Saturday, February 18 at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee with a score of 7-3. The Florida Panthers currently rank 4th in the Atlantic Division.
Sam Reinhart, Matthew Tkachuk and Nick Cousins scored for the Panthers (28-25-6), who have lost three of their past five games (2-3-0). Sergei Bobrovsky was pulled during the second period after he allowed four goals on 11 shots. Spencer Knight made 12 saves in relief.
"We've put ourselves in a position where every single night we have to get points," Tkachuk said. "We have to get wins. We have to win way more than the majority of our games to get in (the Stanley Cup Playoffs). We're in a position now where every game is pretty much a playoff game for us to get in."
Tommy Novak gave the Predators a 1-0 lead at 2:36 of the first period after he won a puck battle in the corner and fired a wrist shot over Bobrovsky's left shoulder. Cousins tied it 1-1 at 7:55 in his 500th NHL game. He beat a screened Lankinen five-hole from the slot. Tkachuk gave the Panthers a 2-1 lead at 12:09, redirecting Brandon Montour's cross-ice pass.
After Colton Sissons gave Nashville a 4-2 lead on a breakaway at 7:40 of the second period, Florida coach Paul Maurice pulled Bobrovsky.
"I got [Bobrovsky] out of there because I didn't think it was going to be goaltending deciding the game," Maurice said. "For us, he's played a lot of hockey. It's an awful lot for him, so give him a little bit of rest and give Spencer some work."
After Nashville scored two more goals, Reinhart cut it to 6-3 with a power-play goal at 9:48, but Yakov Trenin scored an empty-net goal at 14:14 for the 7-3 final.
The Florida Panthers have won five of their last 10 games.
Prediction
The Panthers' leaky goaltending has been less than ideal, but they should dominate against the Ducks. Panthers 5, Ducks 2
Betting trends
Ducks are 1-12 off a home loss by 2 goals or more this season.
Ducks are 5-18 after allowing 5 goals or more this season.
Panthers are 10-17 in non-conference games this season.
Panthers are 38-8 after allowing 3 goals or more in 3 straight games the past 3 seasons.
Projected lines
Ducks:
Derek Grant -- Trevor Zegras -- Ryan Strome
Adam Henrique -- Mason McTavish - Frank Vatrano
Max Jones -- Isac Lundestrom -- Jakob Silfverberg
Brett Leason -- Jayson Megna -- Sam Carrick
Cam Fowler -- Dmitry Kulikov
Simon Benoit -- John Klingberg
Colton White -- Kevin Shattenkirk
John Gibson
Derek Grant -- Trevor Zegras -- Ryan Strome
Adam Henrique -- Mason McTavish - Frank Vatrano
Max Jones -- Isac Lundestrom -- Jakob Silfverberg
Brett Leason -- Jayson Megna -- Sam Carrick
Cam Fowler -- Dmitry Kulikov
Simon Benoit -- John Klingberg
Colton White -- Kevin Shattenkirk
John Gibson
Panthers:
Anton Lundell -- Aleksander Barkov -- Sam Reinhart
Carter Verhaeghe -- Eetu Luostarinen -- Matthew Tkachuk
Ryan Lomberg -- Eric Staal -- Nick Cousins
Grigori Denisenko -- Colin White -- Givani Smith
Gustav Forsling -- Aaron Ekblad
Marc Staal -- Brandon Montour
Josh Mahura -- Radko Gudas
Sergei Bobrovsky
Anton Lundell -- Aleksander Barkov -- Sam Reinhart
Carter Verhaeghe -- Eetu Luostarinen -- Matthew Tkachuk
Ryan Lomberg -- Eric Staal -- Nick Cousins
Grigori Denisenko -- Colin White -- Givani Smith
Gustav Forsling -- Aaron Ekblad
Marc Staal -- Brandon Montour
Josh Mahura -- Radko Gudas
Sergei Bobrovsky
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Chuck Sommers
About the Author:
Chuck Sommers has camped outside of sportsbooks since he can remember, learning the tricks and nuances of the trade. He still has nightmares of betting $5,000 on the Raiders in the Tuck Rule game but has since turned that to 25 years of veteran handicapping greatness. You can find him mostly in the shadows at the Red Rock or Aliante casinos wondering if the over is cashing on any given Sunday.
