A six-game slate in the NHL on Monday, February 20, will start with this inter-conference duel in Florida, and here you can get the best Ducks vs. Panthers betting pick and odds.

Anaheim is desperate to avoid the fifth consecutive defeat when they visit Florida at FLA Live Arena. The Panthers are massive -400 moneyline favorites on MyBookie Sportsbook, while the total is set at 6.5 goals. These inter-conference rivals will meet for the second time this season; the Panthers won 5-3 in Anaheim back in November.

Ducks’ defense suffered again

The Anaheim Ducks (17-33-3-3, 24-32 ATS) are currently on a four-game losing skid, mainly because of their poor defense. Although they weren’t very good offensively, scoring no more than three goals per game during this stretch, the Ducks conceded at least six goals in each game. Anaheim’s most recent defeat came to the Los Angeles Kings, who put six goals past that porous defense. Following this bad series of results, the Ducks are finding themselves only a point above the bottom-placed Chicago Blackhawks in the Western Conference.

Anaheim deserved to lose against Los Angeles as the Kings attempted 41 shots opposite the Ducks’ 27. The hosts had a 1-1 result until midway through the second period, after which the Kings controlled the tilt and celebrated a 6-3 victory in the end. Cam Fowler and Frank Vatrano led the Ducks with two points apiece. This season, Trevor Zegras is the Ducks’ best player with 47 points (G 19, A 28), followed by Troy Terry, who has 42 (G 13, A 39).

John Gibson (10-23-5) is likely going to start at the goal against the Panthers on Monday. The 29-year-old is allowing 4.08 goals per game this year with a .897 SV% and one shutout.

LW Justin Kirkland (undisclosed), RW Troy Terry (upper body), D Urho Vaakanainen (lower body), C Isac Lundestrom (finger), and D Jamie Drysdale (shoulder) are out indefinitely and will not play in Florida on Monday.

Panthers were dismantled by the Predators in Nashville

The Florida Panthers (28-25-5-1, 24-35 ATS) returned home from a four-game road trip on which they recorded two wins and two losses. While that is not such a bad trip, the Panthers did allow even seven goals in the latest 7-3 defeat to the Nashville Predators. Florida will now play nine of the next ten games at home. The Panthers are currently in 10th position in the Eastern Conference with 62 points.

Florida had a brief 2-1 lead in Nashville thanks to goals from Nick Cousins and Matthew Tkachuk before the hosts took over and scored five consecutive goals to get an easy win. Sergei Bobrovsky wasn’t good at the goal for the Panthers; he allowed four goals from the 11 shots he faced. The Preds scored seven goals from 26 shots, which is quite disappointing from Florida’s point of view. So far this year, Matthew Tkachuk is one of the most productive players in the NHL as he registered 76 points (G 28, A 48). Carter Verhaeghe has 51 (G 29, A 22) and Aleksander Barkov contributes 50 points (G 16, A 34).

Sergei Bobrovsky (16-15-2) is slated to start between the sticks against Anaheim on Monday. The 34-year-old is surrendering 3.13 goals per contest this season with a .902 SV% and one shutout.

RW Patric Hornqvist (concussion) and LW Anthony Duclair (Achilles) are out indefinitely. RW Sam Bennett (undisclosed) is questionable to face the Ducks on Monday.

Trends:

Anaheim:

  • 8-25 in the last 33 vs. Eastern Conference rivals
  • 6-22 in the last 28 games following a home loss of three or more goals
  • 3-13 in their last 16 vs. Atlantic Division opponents

Florida:

  • 9-3 in the last 12 after allowing five goals or more in their previous game
  • 7-0 in the last seven games played on a Monday when playing at home

Anaheim Ducks vs. Florida Panthers Pick

There are several reasons why I expect the Panthers to get a comfortable victory here. The Panthers have a top-10 offense that scores 3.44 goals per game opposite Anaheim’s 2.46 goals per contest, which is the third-worst offense in the NHL. When it comes to defense, Florida is not impressive, but the Ducks have the weakest D in the league that allows 4.16 goals per game. Also, the Panthers won each of the last five H2H duels, so I am backing them to get the sixth in a row on Monday.

Pick: Take the Panthers at -1.5 Puck Line (-140)

The Total

 Considering how badly both defenses are playing recently, I would be shocked if the rivals fail to combine for at least seven goals. Anaheim conceded 6+ in each of the last four games, while each of Florida’s previous three games produced 8+ goals. Over is 14-3 in the Ducks’ last 17 overall; Over is 8-0 in Anaheim’s previous eight after allowing five goals or more in their last game, Over is 12-3-1 in the Panthers’ last 16 overall, while Over is 8-1-1 in Florida’s previous ten home games.

Pick: Go Over 6.5 goals (-110)