Arizona Coyotes vs Anaheim Ducks Picks and Predictions December 22nd 2024

Utah Aims to Extend Win Streak Against Anaheim Ducks

The Utah Hockey Club, riding a season-high four-game win streak, hosts the Anaheim Ducks in a Western Conference showdown on Sunday.

Utah’s Momentum Builds

Utah has hit its stride, earning points in seven consecutive games (6-0-1) and winning a season-high four straight. Their latest triumph, a 2-1 road victory over the Minnesota Wild, demonstrated their defensive resilience and ability to compete with top-tier teams.

Head coach Andre Tourigny credits Utah’s turnaround to gradual improvements in their defensive game.

“You climb slowly and start to play better defensively,” Tourigny said. “Even if we weren’t winning a lot early on, we were showing progress.”

Right winger Dylan Guenther has been instrumental in Utah’s recent success. The 21-year-old is on a seven-game point streak, tallying six goals in the past four games, including both goals in the win against Minnesota.

“When the team has success, so do the individuals,” Guenther said. “Our line’s playing well, and I’m just the beneficiary of that. We just have to keep it going.”

Utah’s current streak includes wins over strong opponents like the Colorado Avalanche and Vancouver Canucks, proving they can compete with playoff-caliber teams.

Anaheim Ducks Seek Consistency

The Anaheim Ducks have shown flashes of improvement but remain inconsistent. They defeated the Winnipeg Jets 3-2 in a come-from-behind effort on Wednesday but faltered against the Colorado Avalanche on Friday, losing 4-2.

The absence of Trevor Zegras, who is out with a torn meniscus until mid-January, has significantly impacted Anaheim’s offense, particularly their power play. The Ducks rank fourth lowest in the NHL with a 14.3 percent success rate on the man advantage and went 0-for-5 against Colorado.

“Not having Zegras hurts, but we’ve got to find ways to score,” Ducks forward Alex Killorn said. “We need to create more shots from the top and ensure it’s not a momentum-killer.”

Rookie Leo Carlsson has stepped up in Zegras’ absence, becoming Anaheim’s primary playmaker. Carlsson scored one of the Ducks’ two goals against Colorado and continues to impress with his ability to drive the offense.

“He’s a driver and pushes the pace,” said Ducks coach Greg Cronin. “A lot of his growth as a player will come from being aggressive in the offensive zone, creating chances.”

Check out the latest insights in NHL Conference Odds & Predictions!

Key Matchup

The game will be a test of momentum versus resilience. Utah’s defensive structure and Guenther’s hot streak have them in peak form, while Anaheim seeks to overcome injuries and inconsistency.

Utah will look to capitalize on Anaheim’s struggling power play, while the Ducks will rely on Carlsson and Killorn to generate offense and counter Utah’s disciplined defense.

In their previous meeting on Oct. 16, Anaheim edged Utah 5-4 in overtime. With both teams evolving since then, Sunday’s matchup offers a fresh challenge and a chance for Utah to continue their best stretch of the season.