The Anaheim Ducks approach their final game of the 2024–25 NHL season with a bittersweet tone, carrying a 34-35-8 record into their April 13 matchup against the powerhouse Colorado Avalanche. While playoff hopes faded long ago, the Ducks have exceeded expectations in several betting and performance metrics, particularly at home, where they’ve compiled an outstanding 26-13 record against the spread (ATS) and an overall ATS mark of 52-25. Despite missing the postseason, Anaheim has played with heart and resilience throughout the year, staying competitive against higher-tier teams and offering glimpses of a promising future. That hope has largely been fueled by the efforts of key players like Frank Vatrano, who has led the team in scoring, and Mason McTavish, whose growth as a two-way center has added structure and maturity to the forward corps. Offensively, Anaheim has been underwhelming in terms of raw numbers—averaging just 2.69 goals per game—but they’ve often made up for it with scrappy, opportunistic play and clutch scoring in tight games. Defensively, they’ve been inconsistent, surrendering 3.01 goals per contest, but their performance at Honda Center has been considerably more composed, as evidenced by their strong home ATS record. Goaltending has been a revolving door at times due to injury and inconsistency, though Lukas Dostal has emerged as a bright spot, showing poise under pressure and athleticism that suggests future starting potential. The Ducks’ penalty kill has been a sore spot, and their power play, while occasionally effective, has lacked the finish and puck movement necessary to consistently shift momentum.

Injuries to depth contributors like Robby Fabbri and Ross Johnston have also limited their flexibility and secondary scoring options. Still, head coach Greg Cronin has emphasized growth and accountability, and the players have responded with consistent effort, especially when facing elite teams like the Avalanche. Anaheim’s success as an underdog—48-22 ATS in that role—reflects a group that doesn’t fold easily, often dragging more skilled opponents into physical, grinding games. This final home game offers one last opportunity for the Ducks to reward their fans with a statement win and to send a message about the franchise’s direction. The matchup against Colorado is daunting, but also the kind of challenge that can bring out Anaheim’s best, especially with a crowd eager to cheer on the youth movement that’s beginning to take shape. Expect the Ducks to play with freedom and energy, pressing aggressively on the forecheck and looking to capitalize on any lapses from a playoff-bound opponent that might be focused on staying healthy more than risking everything for two points. While their path to victory may be narrow—requiring sharp goaltending, special teams discipline, and opportunistic scoring—the Ducks have shown all year that they’re more than capable of making elite opponents sweat. A win to close out the season wouldn’t erase the growing pains of 2024–25, but it would affirm that Anaheim is building something worth watching—tough, talented, and maybe just one offseason away from making serious noise in the Pacific Division.