Dallas Stars vs Anaheim Ducks Picks and Predictions March 18th 2025

Dallas Stars vs Anaheim Ducks March 18th 2025

Looking to win big? The Ducks and Stars face off at 8:00 ET on ESPN+. The Stars are hosting the game at American Airlines Center in Dallas, TX. The over/under for this Western conference contest is set at 6 goals, with the Stars being favored by -1.5 goals at home against the Ducks.

Anaheim vs. Dallas Key Information

• Teams: Ducks at Stars
• Where: American Airlines Center Dallas
• Date: Tuesday, March 18th
• Betting Odds DAL -349 | ANA +281 O/U 6

The Ducks Can Win If…

The Ducks fell to 29-31-7 after a 4-2 loss to the Blackhawks. Anaheim entered the game as -1.5 goal favorites, and the total was set at 6.5 goals, but the combined 6 goals fell short of that mark.

Anaheim’s defense struggled early, allowing two goals in the first period. The Ducks didn’t score until the third period, when they were already down 3-0.

Anaheim took 39 shots on goal in their 4-2 loss to Chicago but only found the net twice. Brock McGinn scored his second goal of the season, while Mason McTavish added his second as well, with McTavish’s goal coming on a power play with just 4 seconds left in the game.

Ross Johnston picked up his first assist of the season on McGinn’s goal, and Troy Terry, now with 5 assists, and Ryan Strome, with 4, were credited on McTavish’s late power play goal. The Ducks were held scoreless until the 9:44 mark of the third period.

Defensively, the Ducks gave up the first three goals of the game, including two power-play goals by the Blackhawks. Lukas Dostal made 25 saves with a save percentage of 86.2%. The defense also recorded 6 takeaways and 15 hits.

• The Ducks have gone 1-2 over their last three regular season games. This also includes going 2-1 ATS, and posting an over-under record of 1-2.
• Across Anaheim’s last ten regular season games, their record sits at 4-6. This includes going 7-3 vs. the puck line along with an over-under mark of 6-4.

The Stars Can Win If…

Dallas fell to 42-22-3 after a 4-2 road loss to the Panthers. The Stars were underdogs on the puck line and the total of 6.5 goals was not reached, with the teams combining for 6 goals.

After trailing 2-0, Dallas tied it up with two goals in the second period, but the Panthers scored twice more to seal the win. Evgenii Dadonov and Matt Duchene each scored for the Stars.

In their 4-2 loss to the Panthers, the Stars took 25 shots on goal but only found the net twice. Evgenii Dadonov scored his second goal of the season, while Matt Duchene added his seventh. Duchene also picked up his eighth assist on Dadonov’s power play goal.

The Stars were held scoreless in the first period before netting both of their goals in the second. Miro Heiskanen recorded his fourth assist of the season, and Thomas Harley added his fifth.

On the defensive side, Dallas allowed the first goal of the game at 5:15 in the first period and another at 8:47 in the second. After tying the game at 2-2, they conceded again at 2:32 into the third and an empty-netter with 1:00 remaining. Goalie Casey DeSmith made 21 saves with a save percentage of 87.5%.

• Through their last three regular season contests, Dallas has a record of 1-2. Against the spread, they have a strong mark of 2-1 along with an over-under record of 1-2.
• The Stars have gone 6-4 over their last ten regular season games. Their record vs the puck line sits at 5-5 in these matchups, while posting a 7-3 over-under mark.

The Lean

To those searching for a pure moneyline wager, the Stars is the clear pick. Still, with a payout of -349, it’s worth thinking about including this bet in a parlay.

My recommended pick for the puck line is to take the Ducks to cover. Even if the Stars win straight-up, this one should be close throughout and the Ducks should cover the puck line.

With an over/under line sitting at 6 goals, we like this game to surpass that mark and recommend getting a bet down on the over.

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Mikko Rantanen, Stars Shift Focus to Playoff Push Against Ducks

With Mikko Rantanen’s emotional return to Colorado now in the past, the Dallas Stars (42-21-3, 87 points) can refocus on solidifying their NHL Central Division standing as they host the Anaheim Ducks (29-31-7, 65 points) on Tuesday night.

Two days after a 4-3 overtime loss to the Colorado Avalanche, the Stars remain two points ahead of Colorado for second place in the division. Holding onto this position is crucial, as the second-place team in each division gets home-ice advantage in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

“It should be great, but I’m focused on the next three weeks,” Stars coach Peter DeBoer said when asked about a potential playoff rematch with Colorado.

Rantanen Adjusting to Life in Dallas

Rantanen has been steadily integrating into the Stars’ system after being traded from Carolina on March 7. In four games with Dallas, he has two goals and two assists.

He played a key role against his former team, assisting on Dallas’ opening goal:

“He created that goal,” DeBoer said. “That was a forecheck goal. He made the play happen, and that’s exactly what he’s here for.”

The Stars are 1-2-1 since acquiring Rantanen, but with the NHL Conference Winner Odds in play, they need to regain momentum heading into the postseason.

Ducks Still on the Wild-Card Fringe

The Anaheim Ducks have been hovering just outside the Western Conference wild-card race, but a series of missed opportunities has kept them from making a serious push.

A 6-3 loss to the Chicago Blackhawks on March 1 stalled their momentum, and Sunday’s 7-2 blowout loss to the St. Louis Blues opened their three-game road trip on a sour note.

Despite their struggles, Ducks rookie Cutter Gauthier is keeping a positive mindset:

“We’ve got to come out ready moving forward,” Gauthier said.

Injury Updates & Line Changes

• Sam Colangelo had been a bright spot, scoring five goals in four games before an upper-body injury sidelined him for the last two contests.
• Nikita Nesterenko was recalled from the AHL and immediately made an impact, scoring against St. Louis while playing alongside Gauthier and Mason McTavish.
• Coach Greg Cronin praised Nesterenko’s speed, calling his line the only one generating consistent chances against the Blues.

Betting Insights & Season Series

The Stars are in prime playoff positioning and have been strong at home. Anaheim has struggled with consistency but still has an outside shot at a wild-card spot. With NHL Metropolitan Division Odds, NHL Pacific Division standings, and Stanley Cup Odds in play, bettors should check the latest PICK & ODDS PAGE insights from our EXPERT BETTING GUIDE.

Final Thoughts

Will Rantanen and the Stars regain their winning form, or can Anaheim break their losing cycle and stay in the wild-card race? With playoff positioning on the line, expect a high-intensity battle in Dallas.